Pompey eye up Hilsea site

misleading banner at Fratton Park?

Hilsea has emerged as the latest target for Pompey's 'new' stadium. The saga has had more twists and turns that a Michael Crichton thriller but as yet never a satisfying conclusion. Hilsea would give the club an option to build a 50,000 super stadium for a little more than the £26million the club would have to spend on a stadium half that size at Fratton.

Planning permission has been granted for the club to build a 26,000 stadium at Fratton and work has begun to prepare the site for building work. However Mandaric is worried that planning permission will never be granted to expand the stadium with it being located in such a well built up area. The option to buy the land at Fratton will cost the club £3 million.

Another option being explored is to redevelop Fratton Park - building four new stands and increasing the capacity to 33,000. This option has been successfully executed in places such as London but it seems silly to not start from scratch if land is available.

This is where Hilsea comes into play - one of the only sites in the city capable of sustaining a new stadium. The club are currently in talks with the council over the 17acre site. Local transport links would have to be improved as well as parking sorted out for local residents but the option is definitely there to buy the land. Moving out of Fratton will allow the club to raise £19million pounds from the sale of Fratton Park.

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