English League One football club Lincoln City has reacted cautiously to news of a potential new stadium that would be developed as part of a major mixed-use project approved by councillors.
City of Lincoln Council voted 16 to 11 in favour of the Western Growth Corridor scheme, with the decision now set to be passed to the Secretary of State. Along with a new community stadium for Lincoln City, the £500m (€599.1m/$686.9m) masterplan includes a 3,200-home development, shopping centre, primary school, a hotel, bars and restaurants, commercial premises and a regional sport and leisure complex.
However, the project has proved divisive with more than 250 objections lodged by local residents. There are concerns the 240-hectare Swanpool site sits on land that is prone to flooding, while issues have been raised over its potential impact on traffic and transport.
The stadium development is contained in ‘phase 4D’ of the masterplan and would take three years to complete. However, the total timeframe for the project has been outlined at 22 to 23 years so the stadium itself could be some way down the line.
A Lincoln City spokesperson told The Lincolnite website: “We continue to evaluate all options but must keep in mind that any new stadium would be in phase four which could be tens of years away.”
Lincoln City currently plays at LNER Stadium (pictured), which has been its home since 1895. Fans in September launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at raising the final £500,000 required for the development of the stadium.
The Red Imps Community Trust (RICT), in collaboration with the club, wants to raise a quarter of the £2.3m required to add a second tier to the Stacey West Stand at the LNER Stadium and create a new home for the club’s community work. The other £1.8m has already been secured through grants.
Image: Steve Daniels/CC BY-SA 2.0/Edited for size
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