The brand new Luton Stadium at Power Court has edged closer to being approved today after the club submitted key plans relating to the River Lea. The Hatters are looking to end their 119-year tenure at Kenilworth Road and relocate to Power Court with the club's hierarchy keen to evolve.
The plans for the new stadium at Power Court have been well documented. They include a new retail park, new homes and a hotel in addition to a state-of-the-art 23,000 seater stadium. The plans have been well received by Luton fans as the new stadium will be just 1 mile away from Kenilworth Road meaning minimal disruption to the matchday experience.
The plans were first submitted back in 2019 but certain obstacles have prevented construction work getting started. However, today, one of those obstacles has potentially been navigated as plans to reroute the River Lea have been submitted to Luton Borough Council.
A new route for the river is considered paramount before construction work can begin but the plans submitted today by 2020 Developments Limited, on behalf of Luton Town, should be enough to get the project green-lit. How long it takes to get the seal of approval, though, remains to be seen.
We have only just started talking to the Environment Agency, one thing we all know, government agencies love quickly working things out.
Planning permission was granted in 2019, shouldn’t this have been looked into a few years ago? pic.twitter.com/pHZHA8FvKd
— The WALT Podcast (@TheWALTPodcast) May 13, 2024
A “crucial step” towards a new Luton stadium
WSP, the professional services firm that are helping to guide Luton Town through the complex planning for Power Court, have had their say on what was submitted today. The company's director, Sean McGrath said:
“This represents a crucial step in delivering Power Court with the stadium, commercial space and much-needed housing.
“A new culverted river route would wind its way around the residential developments and stadium, before briefly rejoining as an open section at the Hitchin Road end. The River Lea passes under the site in a covered culvert.
“Works are necessary to the River Lea to ensure commercial and residential developments can progress. The works will require detailed engineering and hydraulic modelling, which will be agreed with the Environment Agency.”