Infograph

We have created this graphic to illustrate how the developer claims that housing is essential to subsidise the sports facilities in their proposal for Park of Keir.

Figures are based on those presented to the Public Inquiry on the Park of Keir appeal in September 2016.

​They do not mention that they will be making a significant profit. If it seems confusing, we wonder if it is intentional to conceal the small contribution from the housing, and the larger profit to the house builder.

The project would need a minimum of £8.5million public sports funding to get built, which still to be arranged. Will it be taken from the tennis funding for all of Scotland and so deprive other areas from getting indoor tennis courts? There are already indoor tennis facilities 3 miles from Park of Keir at Stirling University. Optimistic costs for the sports facilities are £12.5 million, increases could easily push that figure up to £20 million.

The developer will sell the plots to a house builder, which could be themselves. The £210,000 from the sale of each of the 19 plots will go into the project; £4 million. Profit will be made by the house builder, who is building 19 x £1–1.5 million houses. The industry standard level of profit is 25%, or £5 - £7 million.

The developer's agent was clear that profits the house builder makes were not going into the project.
There are costs from the house building which will reduce the amount available to the project.

• £1.9 million “ historic land costs”
  
• £0.5million contribution to Stirling Council for education and affordable housing
• £0.75million for infrastructure - roads etc to the plots.

This leaves £1.75million from the housing alone to subsidise the sports facilities. If the sports facilities are not self-funding they may require further subsidy from public funds or from building more housing. 
Should public funding be used for private profits?