England: Green light for Power Court Stadium!

18.12.2024 21:51 source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra

Luton Town's final plans for a new 25,000-seat stadium have received planning approval. The initial consent for constructing the stadium at Power Court, located in the heart of the city, was granted back in 2019.

A new stadium as a growth opportunity for the club

The Hatters’ development company, 2020 Developments (Luton) Limited, submitted a detailed proposal to the city council in September. The club has previously stated that building the new stadium on brownfield land near the railway station will increase the club’s chances of promotion and staying in the Premier League. Luton Town, relegated from the English top-flight last season, has played at the 12,000-capacity Kenilworth Road for 119 years.

In a statement on the project and its objectives, 2020 Developments declared that the current stadium no longer aligns with the club’s ambitions to compete at the highest level. With the physical constraints of Kenilworth Road, surrounded by terraced housing in Bury Park, further development of the club is impossible, the statement reads. Luton chairman Gary Sweet emphasized that relocating to the new Power Court stadium will be pivotal for the club, enabling it to attract better players and aim to re-establish itself as a Premier League team.

The new 25,000-seat stadium will include media facilities, conference rooms, as well as food, beverage, and entertainment areas. The project also involves diverting the River Lea, creating commercial and community spaces, and relocating a large electrical substation to make room for the stadium. The venue is expected to be ready for use by 2027. Luton Town officials have promised to reveal further details of the Power Court Stadium project in the coming weeks.

A catalyst for city center revitalization

James Taylor, who oversees regeneration and inclusive growth for Luton Borough Council, called the planning approval fantastic news for Luton and a key step toward revitalizing the city center. When our team does well, our city thrives too, and this positive decision allows every Hatters fan to look forward with optimism, he said. In a planning statement from consulting firm WSP, the Power Court development was described as a vital catalyst for modernizing Luton’s town center.