The Committee is pleased to confirm Studio HIVE/Atlas Land will be our main sponsor for the season 2018/19 with the ability to extend the agreement to the following season. In addition to becoming our main sponsor we are pleased to announce that we will be entering into a collaboration agreement with Studio HIVE/Atlas Land to create a ‘Vision’ of what the Club and its facilities could become over the next 5 years and identify suitable surplus land for development to enable our Vision.

The agreement will explore the potential investment in the Club and its existing facilities to provide an enhanced player and spectator experience. We have a long history and play a vital community role promoting rugby in Weston-super-Mare. We are staying at the Rec and the investment in the facilities will enable the Club to provide a platform for a long term sustainable future to enable us to fulfill our future commitments and realise our full potential.

The key objectives to achieve the Vision are as follows;

• Develop the underutilised car park and land to the north with housing led development
• Identify the extent of land to the west and south of the main pitch which can provide enabling development
• Improve club facilities – refurbishment of existing or creation of new buildings
• Create income generating assets
• Deliver a cash surplus to support the club

The Club and Studio HIVE/Atlas Land will work closely with North Somerset Council and other key stakeholders but most importantly with you the members, the core community of the Club.

The Club will hold a series of meetings and consultations with Studio HIVE over the next 2 months, which intend to gather ideas, views, understand needs and wants of members and the club community to help shape the Vision and development brief for the club.

The Club has proposed a working group to liaise with our investors which will represent the members in developing the initial Vision. The working group is made up of :

• John Brentnall
• Barry Sparks
• Pete Land
• Rod Crocker
• Roger Marshall

The members of working group will vary from time to time and will act as the link between you, the members and our investment partners. On the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of September the working group and our investment partners Studio Hive will hold an open forum, discussion morning (both Saturday and Sunday) to enable the members to see the progress of the discussions and to provide all members with the opportunity to comment on the scope of the Vision or provide your own ideas for the future of the club. More details on these sessions will follow.

In time a project website will be developed to provide you with updates on the progress of the Vision, we will also post more news on the website as matters progress.

In the interim if you have any questions on the above please contact either one of the working group members or in the first instance contact John Brentnall.

The timeframe and key activities for the early stages are below.

• Aug-Sept 2018 -Initiate the Masterplanning process, Vision & business plan
• Aug-Sept 2018 -Consult the working group & members on ideas, needs and wants
• Oct – Nov 2018 -Present to Members the Vision (or options)
• Dec 18 – Jan 2019 -Obtain Local Authority support for principle of the Vision
• July 2019 -Submit Planning Application (Target)
• December 2019 -Planning Consent (Target)
• June 2020 -Start on site (Target)
• June 2022 -Completion Phase 1(Target)

This is a very exciting time for the Club, we are fully committed to working with everyone involved with the Club to establish the WSM RFC Vision and deliver a 21st century facility we can all be proud of.

Best regards
Barry Sparks - Chairman

Background information of our Development partners -

Studio HIVE
Studio HIVE was founded by Jason Collard in 2014. The company was formed with the aspiration to work on exciting urban projects with a residential led, mixed-use regeneration bias.
The company provides bespoke solutions for people and property; they create places and integrated communities. Studio Hive has a team of experienced development professionals ranging from project managers to architects and sustainability experts. James Howard Development Director will lead the WSM RFC project. The directors of Studio HIVE have worked together for over 10 years.

Atlas Land
Atlas land was set up in 2016, as the property arm of serial entrepreneur Alan Chaytor, an investor and commodity trader. Atlas Land holds a number of development and commercial assets across the UK. Atlas Land Ltd is a shareholder in Studio HIVE and a private equity house, which acquires assets and provides funding for Studio HIVE led projects and joint ventures. Atlas land is just completing a 76-bedroom student scheme in Exeter; the £11m investment is due for completion for the September intake. With Studio HIVE, Atlas land are currently delivering a 225 student bedroom development in Bristol city center. The £30m investment is due for completion in May 2020.