Solihull Moors Football Club could be forced out for JLR
SOLIHULL Moors Football Club could face the prospect of leaving its ground after the local council earmarked it for development.
The club, which plays in the National League is now on the lookout for a new site after Solihull Council made its 10-acre home the subject of a potential land grab.
The local authority is allowed to order the club to relocate to enable the expansion of the huge Jaguar Land Rover factory which sits adjacent to the 5,000-capacity Armco Arena.
The council has an obligation to assist the club if the move goes ahead as part of the Solihull Local Plan.
Formerly known as Damson Park, the arena also used to be home to Birmingham City’s training ground.
In recent years it has undergone a huge transformation as the club bids to make it into the Football League.
The Lode Lane Jaguar Land Rover plant, traditionally the home of Land Rover, has 5,000 workers and there are proposals to increase that figure by up to 25 per cent during the next few years.
Solihull Council has described the future financial wellbeing of Jaguar Land Rover as “critical” in its Local Plan. Jaguar Land Rover has yet to announce any plans to expand its Solihull factory beyond the current site.
A significant six-figure sum has already been ploughed into the facilities at the site – but the council does have an obligation to find the club another home to the same standard as the one they currently use if they are forced to move.
The Local Plan suggests the club could need to quit its base within the next three years.
Solihull Moors FC was formed in 2007 by the amalgamation of two football clubs, Solihull Borough and Moor Green.
Jaguar Land Rover is currently in the process of transformation as part of CEO Thierry Bollore’s Reamigne strategy.
Part of that will see car production cease at the company’s Castle Bromwich factory, which may be linked to a long-term desire to expand the Solihull operation.