City training ground plans go on display
LEICESTER City will offer fans the chance to have their say on the club’s proposed new £80 million training ground.
The club wants to leave its existing facilities in Belvoir Drive, Aylestone, and relocate to the former Park Hill Golf Club near Loughborough.
City officials have planned an event at the King Power Stadium on Saturday April 7 to show off designs of their proposed state-of-the-art complex, set in 180 acres of grounds.
It will take place outside the family stand between 10am and 3pm – ahead of that afternoon’s home fixture against Newcastle United.
Foxes representatives, planning consultants Deloitte and architects KSS Design Group will host the exhibition and discussion of site plans and strategy for the new facility – described by club vice-Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’.
The session replaces one that was due to be held on March 3 but was called off because of the bad weather caused by the Beast from the East.
A club spokesman said: “The views of Foxes fans are important to the football club, with all members of the Leicester community invited to attend the exhibition.
“Along with the exhibition, there will be opportunities to ask questions about the club’s plans for the site, and is a key element in King Power International’s long-term vision for the football club.”
The informal consultation environment aims to provide supporters, residents and businesses with an opportunity to learn about and discuss the plans in as much detail as possible.
Leicester City says it wants to provide Leicestershire with both a worldclass sporting environment and community programmes to rival the best in the country.
As well as the discussions at King Power Stadium, a questionnaire will also be available on tablet devices to complete on-site.
Season ticket holders and members who are not able to visit the exhibition will be contacted directly to contribute their views on the club’s plans, with the questionnaire and supporting information also available online at LCFC.com .
The club has had a base at Belvoir Drive for more than 50 years.
It is possible the 15 acre site, with an estimated worth of £10 million, could be sold for housing development.
The former Premier League champions originally set their sights on moving its training facilities to Forest View Golf Club near Botcheston
However that deal fell through when the former land owners Leicester City Council insisted on getting a £12 million payment as part of a covenant on the land.