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Fresh details emerge on Leicester’s stadium expansion plans

More details have emerged regarding Leicester City’s plans to expand the King Power Stadium, with the north and south stands set to form part of the wide-ranging project.

Leicester confirmed last month that it had submitted its hybrid planning application to Leicester City Council. Details of the project were first revealed in July, with the plans including a proposal to expand King Power Stadium’s capacity from 32,000 to 40,000 and introduce a mixed-use development that will feature a new arena.

The submission of a planning application followed an extensive pre-application public consultation, which ran from August to September. Leicester said it received “thousands” of pieces of written and in-person feedback from locals, with the response proving to be “overwhelmingly positive”.

The application is currently being validated by Leicester City Council before being determined by its planning committee in the first few months of 2022. Local newspaper the Leicester Mercury has now reported fresh details on the project after the application was published in full.

It had already been revealed that the work would centre on a new east stand at King Power Stadium, but the Mercury notes that the project will also incorporate the north and south stands. No extra seats will be added in these areas, but the concourses are set to be “significantly” expanded.

The upper tier of the new east stand will be able to seat around 8,300 fans, with the lower tier to be “reconfigured” to accommodate 1,390 hospitality seats and a further 206 luxury seats.

A new bar for supporters will form part of the redeveloped east stand, which will also feature a lounge, kitchen and a room for young fans with sensory needs.

Before a decision is made on the application, Leicester hopes to be given permission to start some enabling works on site, which it applied for in September. The wider project also includes the construction of a new multi-purpose event and entertainment arena, club megastore, 220-room hotel, club and commercial office space, a residential tower, and a new multi-storey car park.

King Power International, which owns the club, has long spoken about its ambitions to enhance the team’s facilities and expand the stadium.

Image: Leicester City