A year back we were presented with the design. A year from now Scunthorpe United should already see it built. Buckingham Group was selected to deliver the 12,000 stadium.

Buckingham Group Contracting will carry out the building work on the state-of-the-art stadium designed by the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP). This announcement came yesterday and follows the building’s approval by local council in May.

This means work can and should start very soon, because deadline suggested by Scunthorpe United is a very tight one. The new 12,000-capacity ground should be ready for the 2016/17 season. Buckingham’s budget is estimated at £18 million.

The company, which is based near Silverstone in Northamptonshire, has a portfolio of high-profile work including Stadium MK and the Amex Stadium in Brighton, both of which will be used during this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The overall FWP plan also includes a 100-bed hotel, a multi-use indoor arena; community sports pitches and, potentially, indoor and outdoor bowling facilities. The new home for the League One side will have club and executive facilities, a gym, office space and areas for commercial development as well as a club venue and supporters’ bar.