Plymouth Argyle Home Park land deal approved

The £50m redevelopment includes a new south stand at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park ground

Council leaders have approved a key land deal in the £50m redevelopment of Home Park in Plymouth.

The city council's cabinet agreed to transfer just over an acre of land next to Plymouth Argyle's ground to developer Akkeron to make the revamp "viable".

The council said it hoped in return the redevelopment would create 400 new jobs as well as 600 building jobs.

The project includes a new grandstand, 10-screen cinema, ice rink and a hotel.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Mark Lowy, said: "This is effectively a restructure of an existing lease that enables the developer to secure finance and, by doing this, we are opening the doors to hundreds of jobs and the prospect of great new facilities."

He added that without the extra land, Argyle's owner Akkeron would not have had enough room on the site for the ice rink.

Akkeron has already been given the go-ahead by the planning committee to build nine shop or restaurant units, an ice rink, a 121-bedroom hotel, medical centre, 10-screen cinema and parking for 360 cars.

Within Home Park stadium, a new grandstand of 4,800 seats will be built which will house another four shop or restaurant units.

The club said work could start in September and may be completed in 2015.