Green light for £25m stadium following clash with the council
FULL planning permission has been given to start work on the £25m Scunthorpe United Football Stadium following delays.
Developer Lucent Group had intended to open the stadium in time for the 2016/17 season.
The stadium development was hit by a disagreement with the council over funding, after initial planning consent was granted.
Initial estimates put the development cost at £18m, increased construction costs put a strain on the agreement.
Work is set to begin in May 2016, with the development completed in time for the start of the 2017/18 season.
The stadium has been designed by FWP Architecture and will cater for 12,000 fans in an all seating arena.
Authorities and developers say that between 500 and 700 jobs in construction and post-build could be created.
It will be built on the outskirts of Scunthorpe as part of the £1.2b ambitious Lincolnshire Lakes development that will also see a new business park, Sports Lake and more than 6,000 new homes built.
The Club will move from its present location at Glanford Park in Scunthorpe to a 60-acre site on the west side of the M181, close to the main rail line.
The council has reached agreement in principle with Highways England to construct a new junction from the M181 into the stadium.
Peter Swann, Scunthorpe United chairman, said: “We are at the beginning of a hugely exciting period for Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire, one which will help to define the area and provide some of the finest football and sports facilities in the country.
“For us the work begins in earnest and we, here at Scunthorpe United, are very proud to be involved in such an important and defining project, which will regenerate our area.”
Cllr Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The new football stadium will act as a catalyst for the whole of the Lincolnshire Lakes project and will set the scene for further development at this site.
“We have been working closely with Scunthorpe United and everyone involved to progress these exciting plans. Today signifies a major milestone and means we can now move forward with plans to build this fantastic venue for football fans.”
The stadium is part of the £100m Lincolnshire Lakes development.
