Stadium expansion plans on schedule
CLUB’S APPLICATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED IMMINENTLY
THE planning application for Leicester City’s King Power Stadium redevelopment is expected to be submitted imminently as the club press on with the expansion of their home ground.
After revealing designs of the newlook stadium in August, City hoped to be able to send official planning paperwork to Leicester City Council this month, and the club is well on schedule.
It is understood that the finishing touches are being put to the planning application, and the club are confident it will be submitted at least by the end of the month, but likely earlier, as they push ahead with their plans.
City are hoping to add 8,000 seats to the East Stand to take the capacity of their home ground to more than 40,000.
The redevelopment of the complex will also see the construction of an indoor entertainment arena, a hotel, a block of apartments, a new club retail store and more.
For City to go ahead with their plans, all of the buildings need to be given the green light by the council. They will not redevelop the stadium unless the surrounding construction projects are also approved.
But it is expected that this month’s application submission will go in depth on the stadium itself, as the expansion to the East Stand is the priority, ahead of the site’s other projects.
City hope to be given approval in the spring of 2022, with construction then starting soon after, with the earliest scheduled completion date for the expansion set as the summer of 2024. It is expected that there will be no disruption to fans currently sat in the East Stand during the construction.
The imminent submission of a planning application comes after City’s Environment Impact Assessment scoping report was found to be acceptable by the city council. In July, City put forward a 454-page document outlining the effect of the works on noise and air pollution, biodiversity, archaeological sites and more.
The council put forward recommendations that City have to bear in mind, while organisations like the Canal and River Trust - with some works taking place close to the River Soar - and Historic England - with the Raw Dykes monument, a Roman earthwork, nearby - must also be consulted.