U's are 'open-minded' about moving to a new home

Cambridge United FC has said an "appropriate location" for a new home could be near the planned Cambridge East station if it proves impossible to redevelop the club's current Cledara Abbey Stadium.

The idea is floated in the club's response to a consultation on the area's Local Plan, which outlines future development in and around the city.

The club said staying at the Abbey Stadium, which it bought back in 2022, might not be suitable for long-term growth, so it would "work with the council and others to identify potential alternative sites".

If the U's did move, "the current stadium would obviously then need to be redeveloped to help finance any relocation", it said.

The Cambridge East station plan is part of the East West Rail project, which aims to connect Cambridge and Oxford via Bedford, Milton Keynes and Bicester.

Plans to redevelop the current stadium were put on hold after majority shareholder Paul Barry said the idea was not feasible.

The work would have involved increasing the site's capacity from 8,000 to 12,000, but the the club said it would take two decades to generate a return on its investment.

On the club's website, chief executive Alex Tunbridge said the club's owners and board were "open-minded about a potential future relocation", and that conversations were at an early stage.

"Remaining in the Abbey Ward or as close to it as possible would be our ambition, should redevelopment of the Cledara Abbey Stadium not be feasible," he added.

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