Falmer

[The Large One]

You're right - that sounds a nightmare

Anyway, if this all happens in August/September, any ideas on what then happens in September and October before the building starts in November?

Nothing. They have to wait for November.

Something to do with the soil, apparently.

 

[Gully]

...wrong type of soil maybe, are Railtrack building the stadium?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

An unknown factor is the ability of the contractor to assemble a workforce and all the kit and materials - this will depend on other work that the contractor is doing at the time and how quickly that is finished.

Obviously a contractor who can't start a project in a reasonable timescale shouldn't be selected. But it's never worth making the potential start date the sole determining factor in choosing the company to do the job.

Finishing the job needs the other major players to co-ordinate the work that they commission. That can't always be guaranteed either. Hopefully the City Council will be moving to get the highway works completed on time. But we all know that Network Rail don't have a great record in this sort of thing.

I voted "probably".

 

[The Large One]

Seriously? That's intriguing, I can't even begin to imagine why soil in November is better for building a football stadium than soil in September. So, after all these years of delays and tedious obstacles to overcome, the last one could be SOIL. Brilliant

Oh, for crying out loud.

You're easy...

 

[bigc]

An unknown factor is the ability of the contractor to assemble a workforce and all the kit and materials - this will depend on other work that the contractor is doing at the time and how quickly that is finished.

Obviously a contractor who can't start a project in a reasonable timescale shouldn't be selected. But it's never worth making the potential start date the sole determining factor in choosing the company to do the job.

Finishing the job needs the other major players to co-ordinate the work that they commission. That can't always be guaranteed either. Hopefully the City Council will be moving to get the highway works completed on time. But we all know that Network Rail don't have a great record in this sort of thing.

I voted "probably".

What do Network Rail need to do?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

So how does the road work relate to the building of the actual stadium? Does the road have to be built and in use before we start building the stadium? Or just before we open the stadium? Are the council, not the club, responsible for building the road then, meaning a different contractor will/could be used?

The roadworks are an integral part of the scheme.

The roadworks must be completed before we start using the stadium.

The council are responsible for commissioning the work (because of the way that the Regional Development Agency funds are delivered). The Highways Agency also have to agree the timing - because it affects the operation of a trunk road.

It's quite likely that the roadworks contractor will be a different company. It'll certainly be a different contract.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What do Network Rail need to do?

There are two new bridges being built over the railway at Falmer. It's their railway and they need to agree how access is given to it to allow any works to go ahead.

 

[bigc]

There are two new bridges being built over the railway at Falmer. It's their railway and they need to agree how access is given to it to allow any works to go ahead.

Fair enough. I just was hoping it was something more exciting like boosting the capacity at Falmer Station, but I seem to remember a discussion on here hitting a dead end and us not being to go beyond 5TPH.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Thanks, good stuff. Sorry to be annoying, but one final question, how long are the roadworks expected to take from start to finish? Basically, what I'm getting at is will it be tough to fit them into the 18 month period, or could they overrun?

I would imagine that they won't take anything like eighteen months work on site (which is almost as long as the A27 Beddingham contract is scheduled to take). The detailed design, tendering and commissioning process has to be completed first, of course, before any work can actually start.

 

[Southover Street Seagull]

Nothing. They have to wait for November.

Something to do with the soil, apparently.

Doesn't the club have to do archeological surveys on the site before work can take place?
Or has this already happened?

 

[ROSM]

That makes a lot of sense.

Any 'simple' explanations for why we can't be told how much it's going to cost?

because at this stage nobody will know for certain. There will be estimates (and very accurate ones at that) but the reality is that until contracts are signed, any price quoted is just an estimate. For the same reason, the club may be budgeting at a value but the successful tender could be higher or lower than that. Again, you dont show your hand early.

Many claims in the media about projects coming in more expensive are based on original estimates not the signed business case and contract.

 

[ROSM]

I doubt it.

sorry should have changed 'media' in my last post to 'cynical media'

 

[Deano's Invisible Pants]

Maybe.

My guess is that they'll be offered the loan in spite of the credit squeeze. The real question is whether the terms of the offer and rate of interest are going to be potentially crippling for the club (see AFC Bournemouth). PWC could recommend delaying for a few months until the economics look more favourable.

 

[supaseagull]

not a chance...all projects of this scale are delayed by a MINIMUM of 3 months.

I'd be willing to bet that the stadium won't be open on time for then.

 

[Silent Bob]

Not sure about that. We're paying them a fair whack for producing the business plan. If we can't afford to raise the funds to build the stadium, it's unlikely to effect them too much, surely?

The money is still the biggest stumbling block for me, and with all the luck we've had so far, i'm not convinced that even if we do get permission for the various applications that the building will run smoothly and on time. Also, the Withdean lease for 2011 reeks of contingency planning to me.


Still, hopefully i'm wrong, but i reckon Christmas 2010 is more probable!

Having a contingency plan doesn't necessarily mean you're going to use it. That's why it's a contingency plan! Any major development has potential for hold ups so the club would be foolish not to have a backup in place.

 

[Arthur]

So why do you think there is a fair chance (40%? 50%) that building won't start by November?

Where is your evidence that the Falmer Project Team (probably) won't be able to deliver it?

Where is your evidence that they WILL

The form suggests YEARS of delays