The club is keen to move to a location near its current Brisbane Road home in Leyton, reports Marco Marcelline
Leyton Orient FC aims to move to a “world-class” stadium by 2031 as part of a planned “zero carbon” multi-sport campus delivered in partnership with Waltham Forest Council.
The club is keen to move to a location near its current Brisbane Road home in Leyton, with the stadium set to be large enough to support the League One club’s Championship ambitions.
In a press release issued on the club’s website, Leyton Orient CEO Mark Devlin said: “A new venue is critical for us to continue our growth and success. While Brisbane Road holds a special place in our history, its current limitations prevent us from achieving our full potential both on and off the pitch.
“A move is a necessary evolution to help us achieve our ambition of one day competing in the Championship and to create a financially sustainable future for the club, our supporters and our community.”
Speaking to BBC Radio London, Devlin stated the move was necessary because surrounding residences prevent increasing the current site capacity from 9,271 to a desired “12,000-14,000”.
Leyton Orient says the “zero-carbon” development will include “new youth and multi-gender sports facilities” and may have publicly accessible green spaces and pedestrian/cycle links to the wider area.
Leyton Orient and Waltham Forest Council have signed a memorandum of understanding on the new stadium, which is envisioned to stay in the borough.
The council’s leader Grace Williams has stated Waltham Forest will do “all we can to create opportunities for the area of Leyton”.
She said: “Leyton Orient FC is an important local institution that is hugely valued by residents and the council.
“We have been delighted with the recent successes of both the men’s and women’s teams on the pitch, and we are determined to do all we can to support our local club continue its exciting journey and, at the same time, create opportunities for the area of Leyton.
“The club’s vision for a new stadium aligns with our aim to bring more jobs and training opportunities to local people, build much-needed homes and increase the money flowing into the local economy. We will do whatever we can to support the O’s.”
Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey said: “This is an amazing opportunity that will help us deliver the homes we need, support growth in our local economy, and allow Leyton Orient to reach its potential.
“It is a true asset to be blessed with a club that sees its future right at the heart of the community. Come on you O’s.”
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