King Power Stadium Plans Approval Recommended Ahead Of Final Decision
Plans for the redevelopment of Leicester City's King Power Stadium, aiming to create a range of facilities and approaching 1,700 jobs, have been recommended for approval ahead of a planning committee meeting next week, 11 months after the planning application was first submitted by the club.
Full planning permission is sought for the extension of the stadium's East Stand to increase the total seating capacity to 40,000, along with works to the North and South stands.
Outline permission is sought for a new flagship club retail store, 220-room hotel, multi-purpose arena, multi-storey car park, commercial office space, a 20-storey residential tower and energy centre .
The club are also proposing to increase the number of concerts and non-football sporting events permitted at the site.
News of approval recommendation will surely be welcomed by the club. Recently their chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, expressed frustration at the slow progress, following the Council missing three target decision dates in February, April, and July. He said the revamp to the area, and the extra revenue it would generate, was important to the progress of the club.
Writing in the club’s programme, Top said: “When we first announced our intention to expand the King Power Stadium and develop the surrounding site – a project central to our long-term growth – we would have anticipated such work being well under way by this stage. We are 100 per cent committed to the project and indeed hope to have positive news from the local authorities relative to planning permission imminently, but the project’s delay has unquestionably been among the many consequences of the unprecedented global events of recent years.
“Building the club to a level where we are less reliant on player trading takes good management, strategic, sustainable development, success on the pitch, and time. The visible growth of our commercial revenue streams demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction, but the impact of the pandemic has been undeniable.”
September 14th is when Leicester City Council's planning committee will fully review the proposals.
