This thread is one of the most interesting I have read in ages. There aren't any easy answers here, but I think where we have potential to development the most is the Pop side, where we have far more walkway space at the front than we need, more space at the back, no problem with overlooking housing, and therefore the potential is there to build a new, higher stand with seats at the back and smaller terrace at the front, with enough space underneath for proper catering and toilet facilities - which brings in extra revenue. That will all cost a fortune though, with limited increases in income opportunities.
Golf Road redevelopment is entirely dependent on how high we can build a new terrace and roof without having to get planning permission - I suspect that will be the sticking point- but a decent, steeper terrace would generate more capacity than the current GRE.
I actually think developing chequers end as a decent away end with proper catering, bar and toilet facilities and updated turhstiles is also a priority. The space at the unused gate at the end could be used for a kind of away fans fan zone like the one at Stockport- which brings in more revenue. We need to find ways to provide a seating area for away fans away from family stand - drunken football fans and families and sponsors sat next to each other divided by makeshift barriers is not a tenable longer term solution, so perhaps giving a small area of pop side over to additional terracing and seating would ensure that we can accommodate larger away followings without giving them half the pop side. Build a roof too, gives them one less thing to moan about.
Main stand needs tearing down and replacing, but the trouble is that all of this costs alot of money, is only worth doing if we tear down the family stand and the CSH as well, and at the moment we cannot afford moves like this, so the emphasis has to be on what we can do in the shorter term which has a return on investment, and for me that is the away end - this is where we can spend less to make it more suitable, and generate more income most easily, in my view. People will say it is favouring away fans over home fans etc etc but if we can make an additional £100K annually on catering and perhaps slightly higher ticket pricing at away end, for example, then it is probably the best spend in the shorter term, and will help generate funds for other developments.
Blimey, surely we're not planning a stand higher than those trees they used to have behind the GRE stand? See here for example in 2019, about 1 min 50 in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esOco8gRkdk&list=PLA0y6Ba34-YlJRa4VVJb801KTOeMRhvxO&index=20If that was ok, by definition a slightly higher roof must surely be ok!
I agree about developing the Chequers End. I still say we should do something with the terracing between the Pop side and the Chequers end. The drive behind it appears redundant and, although I haven't measured it, would surely give space for some extra terracing similar to the Pop side, or some facilities for away supporters (as long as you could still get emergency access in the vicinity).
