Luton ground deal secured

Luton Town Football Club today announced the signing of a major land deal for its new ground project at Junction 12 of the M1. The site at Old Park Farm, near Junction 12 is owned by former Chairman Cliff Bassett, who is currently a Vice President The 30 acre freehold will, SUBJECT TO PLANNING CONSENT, enable the Club to arrange the building of a new stadium which they will own, and which will be part of an enabling development with local and community benefits. The sstadium will allow the revenue to be generated that will allow it to compete at Premiership level should they be able to achieve such lofty ambitions.

Chairman Bill Tomlins, is reported on www.lyutontown.co.uk as saying:

'At long last and after lot of support by numerous people, the Club will not only be in control of its future again, but will have the capacity and facilities that the Town can be really proud of.

'Despite various obstacles along the way, having exhausted all other site options, their associated timelines and comparison of associated facilities, the board have never wavered from achieving the Club's relocation objective.

'In addition and, as part of the deal negotiated with Cliff, is a £25m contribution that underpins the stadium build and training facilities.In the short time of our tenure, the Club has progressed both on and off the pitch and would like to personally thank those who have supported us in helping achieve this ambition; we can now fully focus our attention to realising the dream shared by all our supporters'.

Cliff Bassettstated:

'I am delighted to have been able to assist the Club in its desire to relocate to a site that should allow it to achieve what we all want for the Town and to be once again playing at the top end of the game in a new purpose built stadium. We are all now looking forward to implementing the planning process'.

The Club expects to make further announcements regarding its stadium plans over the coming weeks.

While a large number of fans are opposed to the stadium being built outside the boundaries of the Town, my information is that boundary changes that are in the pipeline are extremely likely to bring the site within Luton's boundary , if not by the time it is built, then very shortly thereafter.

However, until a planning application is lodged, it is impossible to say whether such a development would be allowed.

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