The council has outlined Leicester City FC’s prerequisites before commencing work on their plan to increase stadium capacity to 40,000 seats. The finalization of a section 106 agreement between the club and the local council marks a significant step for the expansion project, which aims to add 8,000 seats to the King Power stadium’s East stand, raising the current capacity from 32,000 to 40,000.
After a series of discussions lasting over a year between the club and the local authority, approval was granted for the scheme in September of the previous year. As the Foxes currently lead the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League, they now have a five-year window within which to commence the expansion work.
However, before initiating construction, the club must conduct various site assessments. These include a survey to identify any protected species on the site and the development of a mitigation plan if such species are discovered. Additionally, a structural blast engineer needs to perform an assessment on the proposed cladding’s impact mitigation, informing material specifications. Subsequently, the analysis report must be submitted to counter-terrorism officers prior to installation.
Additional prerequisites before commencing the work involve drafting an employment plan that delineates strategies to maximize local job opportunities. This plan includes collaborating with local job centers and council-led training programs.
Furthermore, before any section of the development becomes operational, the club must furnish comprehensive travel and accessibility plans. Additionally, they need to devise a strategy outlining procedures for securing the entire stadium in the event of a terrorist attack.
It is understood that Laing O’Rourke is in line for the main contractor role and is currently in negotiations with the club regarding the cost of the project.
O’Rourke, currently involved in the development of Everton’s new stadium, was among seven firms responsible for drafting a design and construction plan for the project’s planning application in 2021. This consortium included Curtins, ME Engineers, Gillespies, and KSS.
Other contributors to the project team include Buro Happold, tasked with investigating potential ground contamination on part of the site.
The expansion of the East Stand constitutes a detailed section of a broader hybrid application that received approval in 2022.
The outlined portion, requiring detailed approval before implementation, encompasses a 20-story residential building, a 220-room hotel, a 6,000-capacity events arena, a multi-story car park, and a club retail store.
The club emphasized that the outlined segment of the plan is crucial for the overall project’s feasibility, and its approval would signify a significant milestone. Furthermore, they mentioned the evolving market dynamics, which have considerably shifted since the initial submission of the plans, providing an opportunity for reassessment.
Additionally, the club highlighted its acquisition of new land since the original planning application, stating that it can now be integrated into the broader vision for the site. This acquisition presents an opportunity to enhance the club’s commercial proposition.
The King Power Stadium, previously known as the Walkers Stadium, was constructed by Birse, later acquired by Balfour Beatty for £32m in 2002.
Birse encountered financial difficulties, writing off £5.5m in bad debt after the club went into administration in October 2002, attributing the situation to the cost of the ground and the club’s subsequent relegation from the top flight.
The club has been under the ownership of its current Thai proprietors since August 2010.
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