News: Rotherham United working with Midlands property developer

Rotherham United are working on the development of a new community stadium with Peter Gadsby, a successful property developer and former Chairman of Derby County who has been there, done that, and continues to develop projects at Pride Park in Derby.

Last week, Rotherham United unveiled the latest detailed designs for the proposed £20m, 12,000 seater community stadium on the edge of the town centre.

Peter Gadsby (pictured, far right) has been working as a consultant on the stadium project, working closely with Tony Stewart, Rotherham United chairman and owner of successful Rotherham business, ASD Lighting.

Gadsby is a leading figure in the Midlands property industry having built up the Birch Group Plc before selling to the UK's largest private property company, The Miller Group in a transaction valued at £35m in 2000.

Through his Ark Capital Group he has grown a number of property companies including Cedar House Investments which has developed property on Derby's Pride Park as well as other successful mixed use, office, industrial and retail developments. Turnover at the group was a reported £80m last year.

No stranger to football, Gadsby joined the Derby County board in 1991 and oversaw development of Pride Park which opened in 1997. He led the consortium of local businessmen who bought the club in 2006 and subsequently became chairman.

Gadsby resigned from the chairmanship in October 2007 and then resigned as non-executive director in 2008. Last year, his £37m bid to buy the club was rebuffed by their American owners and just last month, the npower championship outfit denied that he had made another offer to buy the club.

Despite this, he continues to to redevelop land at Pride Park with proposals such as Pride Plaza which involves the building of shops, restaurants and offices on land next to the stadium.

At the press conference last week, Peter Gadbsy talked of a sense of optimism when Pride Park was under construction and the impact of Rotherham United returning to the town centre. He said: "When you see the steelwork going up, and you see it off Centenary Way, and suddenly Rotherham United is back in it, you'll see supporters come back.

"It's a great feeling when you see people lining the streets, coming back into the centre of Rotherham. It's a big fillip, not only just for the football club, but for the whole community."

Rotherham United website
Ark Capital website

Images: Rotherham United / GMI Construction