Leicester City has received formal approval for its King Power Stadium expansion project, with the Championship football club stating that it will now seek to reassess its proposals in light of what it says are significantly changed “market dynamics” from when the plans were first submitted.
Leicester confirmed in October 2021 that it had submitted its hybrid planning application to Leicester City Council. Details of the project were first revealed in July 2021, with the plans including a proposal to expand King Power Stadium’s capacity from 32,312 to around 40,000 and introduce a mixed-use development that will feature a new arena.
The plans were initially approved by the Council in September 2022, but a final decision had been held pending the finalisation of a Section 106 financial agreement in relation to the proposed development, which has now been concluded.
Leicester, which was relegated from the Premier League last season but currently sits top of the Championship table, said its developmental vision will be “transformational” for the city and the region.
The hybrid application initially submitted for consideration in October 2021 following an extensive public consultation process, consisted of a detailed planning application for an East Stand expansion of 8,000 seats, along with an outline application for a wider masterplan, including a fanzone and public realm, a 6,000-seat event and entertainment arena, a 220-room hotel, a residential tower and a new flagship club retail space.
Leicester said: “The wider masterplan is critical to the viability of the overall project, and the grant of outline permission for these additional elements represents a critical milestone for the overall development, whilst also providing the club with an opportunity now to reassess its detailed proposals in light of market dynamics which have changed significantly since the club’s proposals were initially submitted.
“The club’s acquisition of further adjacent land since the planning application was first submitted can now also be factored into our vision for the overall site, and presents a further opportunity to strengthen the club’s overall commercial proposition.
“It will be the responsibility of the club’s leadership to ensure that the final detailed plans for a project of such longevity deliver optimal value, particularly given the scale of investment which will be required from the club and its owners to bring it to fruition.
“The club looks forward to advancing those detailed proposals, while continuing to monitor associated market conditions, which will enable us to plan an appropriate timeline for development work to commence.”
The Leicester Mercury said the club will have five years from the date permission was granted to commence work on the stadium expansion. It added that Leicester will also have five years to submit a full planning document for phase two of the scheme, including the arena and other associated developments.
