Why is a new stadium needed?
Our current 12,000 capacity Kenilworth Road stadium, which has been our home for 119 years, no longer meets the club’s ambition of competing at and sustaining a position at the higher divisions of English football. The capacity and physical constraints of Kenilworth Road, packed in among rows of terraced houses in Bury Park, make it difficult for us to grow the way we need to be competitive and to service our supporters.
The new stadium also represents a significant investment into the town’s future. The wider Power Court project will act as a further catalyst for town-wide regeneration, with plans for new homes, a hotel, a music venue, and other infrastructure to lead the revitalisation of central Luton.
What is the impact on the local economy?
The construction and wider regeneration project will create new employment and stimulate economic growth. We expect at least 1,000 direct jobs to be created during the course of the Power Court Stadium build – with construction of the wider site to increase this number further with an additional quantum of indirect employment.
Furthermore, once the whole site is built out it will generate an increase of more than 1,000 permanent jobs.
The nature of our partnership means Luton Town FC retains control of the project, giving us greater scope to sub-contract and work with businesses in the community where appropriate. We have worked closely with the local authority and other partners to ensure this maximises greater benefits to the community, this has been front and centre at every stage.
How is the project being funded?
The project has been financed by selling the land at Newlands Park at a profit for appropriate approved development, alongside the extra income generated by football trading, including from our one-season spell of competing in the Premier League. We have also spent time fine-tuning the project, finessing the design and to ensure we’re cutting out any unnecessary costs. The plan is that our stadium at Power Court should eventually be debt-free to the Club with the income from the development of the wider site once everything is built.
LTFC is committed to managing this project in our own way to ensure we don’t get into a position that has damaged other clubs with debts related to new ground builds in the wrong location. We are not afraid of taking a more challenging option and being bolder in our approach in collaborating in partnership to share risk, to ensure that we get to a position where the club owns a stadium unencumbered with debt and that the design of the stadium remains truly uncompromised.
What is the timeline for completion?
We’re expecting piling to start this summer,which means the new stadium will be ready for its first full season in 2028/29, giving fans a state-of-the-art venue to call home. Today’s announcement is the first phase of the project build.
Why was Power Court chosen?
We At the very beginning we ran a wide feasibility assessment which looked at more than 30 potential sites, and Power Court was the best option to support our fanbase, our town and people – it’s right at the heart of our town centre.
We always knew construction would be complex with certain constraints; however, Power Court remained the best option for our new stadium. Improved infrastructure and urban renewal will breathe new life into Power Court and its surroundings, making Luton a better place to live, work and visit.
Our new stadium is going to be our home for generations to come and we’re committed to it being the best it can be, in the best location.
What does this mean for club supporters?
We at Luton Town will work closely with local authorities and Limak International to ensure the stadium reflects the spirits and needs of the community.
We’re committed to protecting our heritage – we captured dozens of characteristics unique to Kenilworth Road that will help shape a design uniqueness at Power Court, from the proximity of seats to the pitch, the offset tunnel, and even the approach to the stadium.
The acoustics will be far better, right around the ground. The unique roof structure will retain its acoustic energy and will retrospectively echo a roofline synonymous with traditional English football stadia. Ultimately, the 25,000-seat stadium will mark a new chapter in our club’s history, with modern facilities, improved accessibility, and a community-first mindset.
As fans have been involved from the very start, they can expect to stay involved as the project progresses with regular updates on the LTFC website and social channels. LTFC is committed to protecting our identity and heritage. While we haven’t decided how the stadium will be named, fans will have a say through consultation. The Supporters’ Trust and Hatters Heritage will be intrinsic in their help to the naming of stands.
How is the stadium construction project addressing environmental and sustainability concerns?
Limak International’s global expertise is central to our partnership. Their experience in building sustainable and complex construction projects was part of our considerations during the procurement phase.
We are aiming for a very high BREEAM rating, the system for assessing the environmental performance of buildings. This will make Power Court one of the most environmentally friendly stadium builds in the country, perhaps Europe. Ecological sustainability is central to LTFC’s ethos.
Why was Limak Construction chosen as the construction partner?
We were fortunate enough to have multiple, high-quality bidders for this exciting project. Through a robust tender process, Limak International was chosen based on their 50-year history delivering complex projects. Their technical and engineering expertise on construction methods showed they were the best to avoid any delays, remain consistent with design and within budget.
Alongside this, their eagerness to engage with local sub-contractors to support local employment, our community and their commitment to sustainability meant Limak International was the best choice for the Club.
What is LTFC’s role during construction?
The Club has agreed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PSCA) with Limak International – the PCSA is a pre-contract period leading to a full Construction Management partnership which means both the Club and Limak International share project responsibility.
This allows LTFC to be as hands on as possible with Limak International operating as a service provider, ensuring this project meets the highest standards on employment, environmental and community engagement practices. It also gives LTFC much greater control over completion and design, allowing for more local sub-contractors to be selected.
LTFC will oversee the construction of the new stadium, working closely with Limak International’s management and technical expertise to deliver a world-class, state-of-the-art venue for Luton.
What was the procurement process carried out to select the partner?
The procurement process was overseen by specialists Atkins Realis and involved high-quality applications from both UK and international construction and engineering businesses.
In the end, Limak International’s global perspective, alongside a focus on local delivery, resulted in their appointment as our partner. Limak International’s track record and world-class expertise and credibility meant they are the best partner to deliver our fans a world-class new stadium.
