Luton Town have set the countdown clock ticking on playing their first game in a new 17,500-seat stadium at Power Court in 2024.
Work could begin next year, should the council approve detailed plans in March, but before that fans will get to see the full plans and images early in the New Year.
The outline planning permission for the Power Court site and the related development at Newlands Park was granted early in 2019 after a protracted battle with major objectors Capital & Regional, owners of The Mall.
The coronavirus pandemic this year saw chief executive Gary Sweet admit a rethink was needed, but many of the original facilities on the site – including a music venue and food store – appeared to have survived, when amendments were to the original permission were published earlier this month.
The club and their property arm, 2020 Developments Ltd, are expecting progress early in 2021, and a favourable decision from town councillors in March could then see work begin on the Power Court site later in 2021.
A statement on the 2020 Developments’ website read: ‘In the midst of a turbulent macroeconomic environment and an ongoing pandemic we are focused more than ever on delivery and realising the dreams and ambitions that led us to purchase both sites.
‘Our full plans and technical reports, together with indicative images, will be made available early in the New Year via Luton Borough Council’s planning portal.
‘We anticipate the plans will be determined at a Development Control Committee meeting in March and, if successful here, will see a start on site later in 2021.
‘On this basis we are looking at playing our first game at the new stadium in 2024.’
This would also set the expiry date on the Hatters’ 115-year-old Kenilworth Road home and mean fans – who have largely been locked out of football since the pandemic begun in March – will only have three more seasons to enjoy watching football at the ground before the big move.
