Luton Stadium Announcement

WWW.lutontown.co.uk have released the following information:

Rosemound Developments Limited announced today that it has signed an agreement with Cliff Bassett, owner of the 250-acre site at Old Park Farm south of Junction 12 of the M1 motorway. The enabling development on the site will provide a new 22,000-seat stadium for Luton Town Football Club, who recently appointed The Miller Partnership as their stadium architects.

The announcement had been anticipated for several months, following the commitment made by Cliff Bassett to the Football Club in June last year to assist its relocation to a new 22,000 seat stadium on 30 acres within the site.

The agreement entered into by Rosemound and Cliff Bassett includes a contractual obligation to provide £25million funding contribution for the new stadium, which will be built on planning permission being granted.

David Keir from Rosemound commented:

'We are delighted to be able to make this announcement today. Whilst we are aware that there will naturally be concerns regarding the development, we will be addressing these as best we can during the course of the consultation process.'

'We believe that this agreement represents an excellent opportunity to create a positive development which will not only create an international standard football stadium for Luton Town, but will also bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the area and deliver significant community benefits.'

Rosemound and the Club will now be working with the local authorities to seek to progress the proposals. A public consultation process will be under way by spring 2007 to obtain feedback from local people in relation to the new stadium and enabling development.

Bill Tomlins, Chairman of Luton Town Football Club, stated on behalf of the Board:

'Our agreement with Cliff Bassett, coupled with his partnership agreement announced today with Rosemound Developments, will at last enable the Club to focus on its intended move from Kenilworth Road, and the Board are pleased that this agreement has now been signed. The opportunity to relocate to a new purpose-built state of the art stadium with high quality facilities and amenities, will not only fully serve the needs of the Club and its supporters, but importantly the local community as well'

It is anticipated that the Club will take handover of the stadium in line with the phased completion of the M1 works.

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