At the meeting of the full council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich on 28th June Councillor Charlie Davis asked the leader of the council (Denise Hyland) about rumours of planned residential development at The Valley:

Davis:

"Charlton Athletic will next season celebrate the 25th anniversary of their return to the Valley. Documentation has recently been discovered revealing that the current ownership has been investigating the possibility of redeveloping the land into residential accommodation. Given the risk that such a redevelopment may result in the club temporarily or permanently having to leave the Royal Borough, can the Leader give assurances that any attempt to redevelop into residential accommodation would be rejected outright by the Council - protecting the sporting heritage and future of sport in the Royal Borough and the valuable partnership the Council has with the Charlton Athletic Community Trust ?"

Hyland:

"I thank Cllr Davis for his question but he really should not allow this rumour to bother him.

There has been no approach from the club or their representatives to relocate and redevelop the football ground for residential purposes.

The Core Strategy designates the football ground as community open space and an area at risk of flooding. There is a presumption against redeveloping land that is designated as community open space.

The Valley is also an Asset of Community Value (ACV) which was granted in November 2013."