A councillor responsible for regeneration has said that Luton’s Power Court stadium will be the catalyst for change in the town centre after plans were approved last night.
Eight years after plans were first unveiled, detailed proposals were finally given the green light which will see the Hatters start building a 25,000-seat stadium by 2027.
The council’s development management committee also approved outline plans for a 1,800-capacity music venue and hotel, along with other supporting spaces including retail and food and drink spaces, while deculverting the River Lea to provide a public space.
The new stadium development will transform a derelict and toxic site which has been an eyesore in the centre of Luton for more than two decades.
It will also act as the centrepiece of a wider regeneration plan for the town centre between now and 2040. Among many other projects, work is already underway on a £136million project to transform the nearby old Bute Street car park into The Stage development, which will have homes, shops, a multi-purpose performance venue and community areas between Luton train station and the new Hatters home.
Councillor James Taylor, portfolio holder responsible for regeneration and inclusive growth at Luton Council, said: “Tonight’s approval of the detailed Power Court planning application is great news for Luton and our town centre.
“This multi-million pound development will invest onto a long derelict site and help to spark a revitalisation of our town centre. With our own regeneration project, the Stage, we are excited about the positive impacts these developments will have on our economy and visitor offer.
“Our ambitious town centre masterplan is delivering the positive outcomes that we want to see and hope to keep delivering in the future. “There are a few standard additional post committee items that still need to be resolved but we are closer now than ever in seeing the Hatters finally have a new home.
“When our team does well, our town does well and this positive development can have every Hatters fan looking to the future with optimism.”
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