Persimmon Homes has pre-empted York City FC’s proposed move to a new stadium by applying for planning permission to build 93 houses on the site of the club’s existing Bootham Crescent football ground.
The ground was placed into the ownership of former York City chairman Douglas Craig’s Bootham Crescent Holdings before he sold the football club to John Batchelor earlier this year.
Craig has signalled his intention to sell the ground separately.
Persimmon already has a sponsorship deal with Batchelor, covering his portfolio of sporting interests.
Ian Hessay, managing director of Persimmon Homes in York, said that he “did not envisage” approval for the scheme being granted before the club had found a site for a new ground.
“We are not sitting there beating the drum or anything,” he said, although he confirmed the housebuilder did have a timetable in mind.
York City has been in negotiations with the city council over a new ground and is said to have identified Clifton Moor to the north west of York city centre as its preferred site.
However, talks have been troubled, with Batchelor calling the council the most “shambolic and inept” he has ever dealt with.
EGi News 11/09/02
