POTENTIAL SALE OF AGGBOROUGH STADIUM AND SURROUNDING LAND

[kc 176]

From what i have been told there is no existing sporting / football covenant in place which makes an insertion of one in any sale vital in my humble opinion.

If Mr Lane sells the club on in future years to a less genuine individual we could have a real issue.

[marcus garvey]

How does the finance side work? Where does the money for the purchase and redevelopment come from? How much will this all cost? Which company will hold the land and buildings asset? Will we borrow against the asset? What happens if the income streams don't match the borrowing?
I'm struggling to see how this can be good in the long term. Let's be honest, the fans won't be told anything but will be called upon when/if it fails.

[Morgan]

How does the finance side work? Where does the money for the purchase and redevelopment come from? How much will this all cost? Which company will hold the land and buildings asset? Will we borrow against the asset? What happens if the income streams don't match the borrowing?
I'm struggling to see how this can be good in the long term. Let's be honest, the fans won't be told anything but will be called upon when/if it fails.

I’d be gobsmacked if the football club ever owns the stadium. Slippery slope. Who owns the training ground these days?

[Harry Aire]

Thanks KC 176. I have written to Mr Hart as you suggested.

[garthrockett]

https://www.khist.org.uk/khist-statement-on-wyre-forest-district-council-wfdc-announcement-of-aggborough-stadium-sale-of-28-january-2026/

[Paulwj]

When I asked an (unpredictable I know) robot what it knew about the training ground it said the following.
The Brinton’s Field / CoSE plot in Stourport-on-Severn (DY11 7DY) is currently associated with active residential development and major local infrastructure works. As of February 2026, the site is part of significant local planning and construction activity.
Current Status & Key Developments
Housing Development: The "CoSE" (Centre of Sporting Excellence) plot area is undergoing a transition toward residential use. A temporary closure order for nearby footpaths (SV-530 and AD-522) is scheduled to commence on 19 February 2026 for approximately six months to facilitate a housing development.

[Paulwj]

It’s probably nonsense but interesting if true

[Phil]

Housing? More like tiny little one man lock up industrial units.

This council have no ambition for anything grander but Wychavon does. 6 Ways, Worcester.

[Pirate of Zaragoza]

I was told that one of the 14 pitches was going to have a small stand and floodlights and would be home for the womens team

[Harrier1994]

I was told that one of the 14 pitches was going to have a small stand and floodlights and would be home for the womens team

Can't find the statement on the Harriers website but here is the article that says that's the plan


https://kidderminsterstandard.co.uk/sport/football-kidderminster-harriers-women-to-play-home-games-at-droitwich-spa-following-promotion/

[garthrockett]

One of the things mentioned in the council meeting was the sale of part of Zortech Avenue; I assumed that was separate to the Aggborough discussion, but looking at google maps development of this road could give better transport access to the football academy and training facilities on the Stourport road?

[Jasper]

Housing? More like tiny little one man lock up industrial units.

This council have no ambition for anything grander but Wychavon does. 6 Ways, Worcester.



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Phil they can attract the large industrial units because of the access to the motorway network (M5) adjacent to Sixways' various developments.

[Phil]

Housing? More like tiny little one man lock up industrial units.

This council have no ambition for anything grander but Wychavon does. 6 Ways, Worcester.

Phil they can attract the large industrial units because of the access to the motorway network (M5) adjacent to Sixways' various developments.

I understand that Jasper but I just wish our council would think things through and be a little more pro-active when it comes to attracting investment and employment.

Take Silverwoods as a brilliantly flawed example.

Here was an opportunity to do just that but what have we ended up with? A hodge-podge of residential, industry, leisure, nursing homes and a yellow blot on the landscape. Who on earth thought it was a great idea to stick old people between a factory and a yellow box and then un-believably get the planning permission passed for it.

As for the road through then there's another disaster. Too narrow and too many roundabouts for heavy lorries to use even though the original intention was to take heavy through traffic away from Foley Park

I know a couple of people who lived along that road and they regret the day they bought cheap to get on the property ladder and then waited two years to sell at an equally low price.

Silverwoods should have been industrial from day one. The council should have built a couple of large units, sold them and the waiting developers would soon appear.

Yet again WFDC have failed their residents.

[garthrockett]

I understand that Jasper but I just wish our council would think things through and be a little more pro-active when it comes to attracting investment and employment.

Take Silverwoods as a brilliantly flawed example.

Here was an opportunity to do just that but what have we ended up with? A hodge-podge of residential, industry, leisure, nursing homes and a yellow blot on the landscape. Who on earth thought it was a great idea to stick old people between a factory and a yellow box and then un-believably get the planning permission passed for it.

As for the road through then there's another disaster. Too narrow and too many roundabouts for heavy lorries to use even though the original intention was to take heavy through traffic away from Foley Park

I know a couple of people who lived along that road and they regret the day they bought cheap to get on the property ladder and then waited two years to sell at an equally low price.

Silverwoods should have been industrial from day one. The council should have built a couple of large units, sold them and the waiting developers would soon appear.

As someone who worked next to the Sugar Beet factory for 30 odd years and watched the development of the factory area from next door I might be able to explain some of the ' missed opportunities' Phil.
When Bostik (the factory you can see behind the car park at Starbucks) was owned by Ashland Chemical we were a COMAH licensed site; we stored a certain threshold of hazardous chemicals that meant no new residential/commercial development within our "sphere of influence" ; about half a mile radius. Up to about 2005 that was still the rules, until we stopped making phenolic resins and started on glues, and our COMAH licence was not required and residential and commercial was allowed as neighbours (within reason). We as a company were heavily involved in what our new neighbours would be, liaising with council planning and the Environmental Agency. As I understand the roundabouts and road system is as it is due to the weird geology of the old site, settlement pits used at the old beet factory, and natural sandstone faults. There was even consideration given to an series of artificial pitches being laid adjacent to the leisure centre, nixed by the geology.
The whole development attracted a lot more central govt cash if certain criteria was met regarding residential, leisure and commercial; hence the mish mash of different stuff.
Our tankers, transport etc, have continually used the Silverwoods short cut onto the Worcester road as soon as it was open, and still do, as it cuts 10 minutes off a journey.

A bit off topic but maybe interesting for all the locals.

[TomLong78]

I understand that Jasper but I just wish our council would think things through and be a little more pro-active when it comes to attracting investment and employment.

Take Silverwoods as a brilliantly flawed example.

Here was an opportunity to do just that but what have we ended up with? A hodge-podge of residential, industry, leisure, nursing homes and a yellow blot on the landscape. Who on earth thought it was a great idea to stick old people between a factory and a yellow box and then un-believably get the planning permission passed for it.

As for the road through then there's another disaster. Too narrow and too many roundabouts for heavy lorries to use even though the original intention was to take heavy through traffic away from Foley Park

I know a couple of people who lived along that road and they regret the day they bought cheap to get on the property ladder and then waited two years to sell at an equally low price.

Silverwoods should have been industrial from day one. The council should have built a couple of large units, sold them and the waiting developers would soon appear.

As someone who worked next to the Sugar Beet factory for 30 odd years and watched the development of the factory area from next door I might be able to explain some of the ' missed opportunities' Phil.
When Bostik (the factory you can see behind the car park at Starbucks) was owned by Ashland Chemical we were a COMAH licensed site; we stored a certain threshold of hazardous chemicals that meant no new residential/commercial development within our "sphere of influence" ; about half a mile radius. Up to about 2005 that was still the rules, until we stopped making phenolic resins and started on glues, and our COMAH licence was not required and residential and commercial was allowed as neighbours (within reason). We as a company were heavily involved in what our new neighbours would be, liaising with council planning and the Environmental Agency. As I understand the roundabouts and road system is as it is due to the weird geology of the old site, settlement pits used at the old beet factory, and natural sandstone faults. There was even consideration given to an series of artificial pitches being laid adjacent to the leisure centre, nixed by the geology.
The whole development attracted a lot more central govt cash if certain criteria was met regarding residential, leisure and commercial; hence the mish mash of different stuff.
Our tankers, transport etc, have continually used the Silverwoods short cut onto the Worcester road as soon as it was open, and still do, as it cuts 10 minutes off a journey.

A bit off topic but maybe interesting for all the locals.

Thanks Garth - genuinely fascinating insight into why Silverwoods has been developed as it has!

Back to the restrictive covenant point, if there is no existing covenant, it must be a tricky one for the Council, as presumably imposing a covenant that doesn’t currently exist will impact the value of the land, and therefore the price the Council will receive.

Clearly if the land had planning permission for housing it would be worth many millions. At present it doesn’t have such permission, but with no covenant, the land is still pretty valuable (although whether we ever find out how much the Council will receive for the land, I don’t know). But with a covenant on the land restricting its use, suddenly it’s potential value drops significantly - as Harriers fans that is not something we care about, but the Council will have various legal obligations in undertaking the sale, including seeking to maximise a return for local taxpayers no doubt.

Of course, I sincerely hope a covenant, limiting use, is put in place (and it is something I flagged on page 1 of this thread, back in October), but I can understand why - for commercial reasons - the Council might be reluctant, or even able, to commit to that.