Cambridge United progress stadium revamp



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Cambridge United stadium update October 2024 Image: Cambridge United FC

Cambridge United is pushing ahead with its plans to redevelop its Cledara Abbey Stadium, with the club hoping to publish designs by the end of the year.

The club said it intends to redevelop both the Habbin Stand and Newmarket Road End (NRE) with the ambition to achieve a capacity of just under 12,000.

It has been looking at the right mix and location of seating and hospitality and now intends to redevelop the Habbin Stand with a 3,300 seated stand for home supporters, with improved hospitality and family facilities.

The NRE will be replaced with a 3,500 terrace which will be able to be retro fitted with safe standing. In addition, there will be a new club shop, offices and museum.

Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the City of Cambridge, England (UK). They compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United and took the name Cambridge United in 1951.

The Cledara Abbey Stadium is a football stadium in Cambridge, England (UK). It has been the home ground of the Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and currently has a maximum capacity of 7,937 spectators.

Cambridge United said in a statement, “The Cledara Abbey Stadium is one of the last of its kind in the professional game. It is steeped in history, heritage and memories and is why buying it back was so important to our owners.

“We need to increase capacity, improve facilities at all levels and in turn drive income to allow us to be more competitive on the pitch. That means striking the right balance between modernisation and protecting the existing aspects which make the Abbey what it is today.

“As is well known, we are pleased there is now an agreement with the Supporters Club to build a new facility for them in front of their existing one, in turn allowing space for the expanded NRE with the pitch also moving south.”

CEO Alex Tunbridge explained the different elements the Club is seeking to align.

He said, “Cambridge United is seeking to modernise for the long term as a club and the stadium redevelopment is at the heart of that. We had hoped to set out plans in the summer, but the timetable has slipped to the end of the year.

“In the meantime, I wanted to update fans on the five interlocking critical areas we are trying to align so that the project can move forward with the best chance of success, the least disruption and the most positive impact for the long term.

“There have been a huge number of meetings over recent months involving people from right across the Club and the City. We are particularly grateful for the positive way the City Council are engaging with us on this project.”

Since the turn of the year, Cambridge United has been working with Bluerock Sports to carry out a variety of feasibility studies, exploring operating models, layouts and local needs.

The results of this work has provided the club with a strong understanding of the income levels which could be achieved by different design configurations, it said.

Creating spaces for internal and external community and commercial activities will be key to the future.

Cambridge United said the time to produce the Planning Application will be roughly 6-8 months and will involve a wide variety of specialists.

Led by Wrenbridge Sport, who oversaw the club’s training ground project, the assembled planning team will shortly commence a variety of surveys and studies required for the application.

Transport, ecology, community benefit and local architectural design principles will be key alongside an engagement strategy with residents and stakeholders.

The club said it hopes to submit the application in summer 2025.

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