Luton Town have been granted planning permission to proceed with plans to build a new stadium called Power Court.

Permission was granted by Luton Borough Council to build a 25,000 stadium on brownfield land near to Luton train station on the site of the former Luton Power Station.

A meeting was held last week (17/12) that ruled in favour of the plans to build the stadium as a replacement for Luton’s Kenilworth Road, which has housed the club since 1905 and was renovated last year in preparation for Luton’s promotion to the Premier League.

Luton Town first identified the Power Court site as a suitable location for a new stadium in 2015 and were granted outline planning permission to use the site for a ground in 2019.

Luton Borough Council’s Councillor James Taylor, Portfolio Holder responsible for Regeneration and Inclusive Growth at Luton Council, said in a statement, “Tonight’s approval of the detailed Power Court planning application is great news for Luton and our Town Centre. This multi million pound development will invest onto a long derelict site and help to spark a revitalisation of our town centre. With our own regeneration project, the Stage, we are excited about the positive impacts these developments will have on our economy and visitor offer.

“Our ambitious town centre masterplan is delivering the positive outcomes that we want to see and hope to keep delivering in the future. There are a few standard additional post committee items that still need to be resolved but we are closer now than ever in seeing the Hatters finally have a new home.

When our team does well, our town does well and this positive development can have every hatters fan looking to the future with optimism”. 

In remarks published on the club’s website and in the match programme ahead of Luton’s final home match of 2024 last weekend, Luton Town’s CEO Gary Sweet hailed the decision.

He said, “Without doubt, our biggest victory of the year was played out on a Monday night fixture at the Town Hall, in front of a crowd of dignitaries, resulting in a massive home win for the Town but without a ball being kicked.

“All of us present in the Council’s chambers, along with the many Hatters watching the live stream, were thrilled that our detailed planning application for a long-awaited new home at Power Court was given the final green light by Luton Borough Council marking the end of formalities on our new stadium journey as we celebrate the fact that no further permissions are required.

“It’s another defining milestone in the delivery of our long-held plans for a new stadium against our seemingly disappointing season in the Premier League. In an ironic and bittersweet way, it was last season’s short visit to the top table which provided the resources for the redesigned bigger, more ambitious stadium which will provide the foundations for a longer Premier League visit next time.

“First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone at the Council – councillors, planning officers, executive officers and the leader – who have all been amazingly supportive during the challenging but enjoyable process – to all of those who supported the applications.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your patience and support in enduring this long, extended process. Personally, I consider myself to be a patient person, but as we battled through the numerous challenges since the conception of our original plan, I’ve had to learn to put my eagerness and frustrations to one side. Patience truly is a virtue when you know you’re on the right track (on and off the pitch!).”

Sweet said attention will now turn to hiring a master contractor and getting cash flow in place to get the project off the ground, with intent to begin construction by June and to have a stadium ready by the summer of 2028 at the latest, with the summer of 2027 a possible target.

He said, “Alas, whilst many may expect piling and brick-building to start immediately, there are still a few agenda items we need to tick off which we can only do when our decision notice is awarded.

“Of course, in terms of physical constraints, we do have the small matters of relocating a sub-station and the diversion of the river before we can begin the physical work, which will just take a few months. The latter is more within our control but whilst we are forced to pay for the new sub-station, we are beholden to UKPN for its installation, switch-over and removal of the old one.

“Meanwhile, as this work continues, we have an intensive period of appointing a master contractor – where I can inform you that the selection process has excitedly begun with the initial response being very positive.

“Our core focus is structuring the necessary cashflow funding to help pay for the construction of the stadium itself until such a time that the residential development has been completed a few years later and, in particular, we are in dialogue with public bodies for some financial support for the site-wide infrastructure which is key to the town’s wider regeneration.

“Working with the appointed contractor, we will also need to deal with the many conditions in the planning consent, section 106 agreements and, of course, to meet the numerous compliances set out by the various authorities.

“At the same time, we will also be resubmitting new plans for the wider Power Court site – for the residential development – so we can establish a phased construction plan, starting of course with the stadium itself. The work for this masterplan has already been done and these will be made public in the not-too-distant future.

“Anyway, enough of this detail, I hear you cry. The plan is to have ‘spades in the ground’ within about six months. From then we’re looking at approximately a two-year build, as long as we don’t experience any further unforeseen obstacles. Now, whilst this may suggest a potential 2027/28 season start, even after fitout and the necessary test events – which is indeed our ideal target – history would suggest that we may be prudent to hope for this but expect the season after.”

Milton Keynes City Council have announced plans for significant upgrades to the city’s Central Library.

The £3.6M project is intended to address essential infrastructure issues, with the City Council stating these include making the building watertight and operational for the long term.

Key facilities will also be repositioned and expanded to better accommodate the needs of families, children and adult learners.

Once complete, the renovations will intend to relocate the children’s library to the ground floor, making it easier to access for families and carers, and reconfigure event spaces to create additional classrooms for adult education, meeting growing demand.

The plans also intend to replace the Central Library roof and restore the lift, improving access for residents with mobility challenges.

While many other councils have closed libraries since 2010, with recent analysis showing since 2016 around 20% of libraries in England have been closed, Milton Keynes City Council’s leadership have said they have invested in libraries, opening two new ones and improving others.

Councillor Lauren Townsend, Cabinet Member for Resources and Customer Experience, said, “While many places in England have seen libraries close due to shrinking council budgets, Labour Milton Keynes City Council continues to keep them open and invest in our library service.

“Labour’s £3.6M investment in Central Library will ensure this vital resource continues to serve Milton Keynes residents in the future. Libraries are at the heart of our community, providing essential services like family activities, education for all ages and spaces for working.

“From improving access for parents with buggies to expanding classrooms for adult learners, these upgrades to our Central Library in CMK will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Stalls have re-opened at Milton Keynes Market following a fire that closed part of the site earlier this month.

Fire broke out on the night of December 10th at the market, which runs parallel to the centre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes City Centre.

Following the incident, stalls have now begun to re-open, having gradually re-opened in the days following the blaze.

Both the market and Milton Keynes City Council have provided updates confirming that the market has now re-opened for most stalls, but some have re-opened in different locations to usual due to some areas remaining inaccessible and that they will remain open through to Christmas Eve.

MK Market wrote on social media, “All traders at Milton Keynes Market except for Krishna Asian Food Market are reopen. Some areas of the Market remain fenced off. Please do not try to enter these areas.

“We encourage you to come and support our traders before Christmas. Milton Keynes Market is open every day until Christmas, closing at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Thank you so much for your support.”

Milton Keynes City Council have added that temporary bus stops are now in place in the city centre with the usual bus stops adjacent to the Point and the Theatre District remaining closed due to the fire.

Temporary bus stops are located on Avebury Boulevard.

The City Council said, “Following a fire at Milton Keynes Market on 10 December, all stalls except one are now open and trading again.

“Some stalls are in temporary positions while the damage caused by the fire is assessed. This involves specialist inspectors and third parties and will continue into next week.

“For everyone’s safety, sections of surrounding roads remain temporarily closed. Some bus stops have moved – click here for a map of temporary bus stops (directions are also in place in the city centre). Taxis that usually use the Midsummer Boulevard rank, which is not currently accessible, should be able to return there from 2 January. In the meantime, they may legally pick up passengers in other safe places.

“Milton Keynes Market is open until Christmas Eve, will be open on 28 and 29 December, and opens for the new year on 2 January. Please show your support by shopping at the Market, as this will help stallholders at this very important time of the year.”

Northampton’s final home game of 2024 would see the Cobblers endure a 5-0 mauling by Charlton Athletic.

Greg Docherty’s brace and further strikes by Tyreece Campbell, Miles Leaburn and former Cobbler Danny Hylton made it a painful pre-Christmas game for the Cobblers.

The currently managerless side are now on a run of 1 win in 9 League One games and they will spent Christmas Day two points and one place above the relegation zone, but having played more games than the teams below them.

Northampton had hoped for a positive performance against a midtable Addicks side to bounce back from three goal defeats in league and EFL Trophy.

But the day didn’t get off to a good start for the hosts as they fell behind inside the opening ten minutes. Campbell’s cross wasn’t fully cleared and the ball eventually fell for visiting captain Docherty, who drilled a low shot across Nik Tzanev and in to give the visitors the lead.

Charlton continued to press and they would make it 2-0 three minutes later. Leaburn’s ball forward released Campbell, who eluded the last defender before firing past Tzanev.

The Cobblers’ day got worse in the final ten minutes of the first half, as a Northampton defender could only flick Macauley Gillesphey’s long ball on to Leaburn, who duly drilled a shot home to give Charlton their third.

Northampton had some chances for a consolation with Cameron McGeehan seeing a firm drive just fly wide and the Northern Irishman was later kept out by away keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

But Charlton instead added to the home side’s misery with a fourth goal with just over 20 minutes of the 90 to go, when Luke Berry cut the ball back for Docherty to rifle home his second of the day.

Charlton would grab a fifth in stoppage time, when a cross by substitute Alex Mitchell found fellow arrival Hylton, who found the bottom corner and in the process scored his first goal for the Addicks.

That duly put the seal on a dismal day for the Cobblers, who will be chasing points in their battle to stay up when they visit Reading on Boxing Day.