Hull KR ambitious sporting campus plans

Article posted by Coliseum, June 26^th, 2025

Image: Hull KR

The professional rugby league club Hull KR have launched a major consultation exercise on its ambitious proposals to regenerate the land surrounding their home ground – the Sewell Group Craven Park in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England (UK).

‘HULL KR’ stated that the plans which will be the most significant changes to the stadium footprint since its original completion in 1989 will now go to public consultation.

The Hull Kingston Rovers, more popularly known as the Hull KR, are a professional rugby league club based in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England (UK). The club play their home games at Craven Park and compete in the Super League, the top tier of British rugby league.

The 11,000-capacity Craven Park (currently known as the Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby league stadium located in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England (UK). It is the home of the Hull KR.

‘HULL KR’ further stated that the club’s proposals are set to enhance the area with investment into better facilities and amenities, to promote health and wellbeing across East Hull and the wider City while helping to future-proof the club’s ambitions, both on and off the pitch.

In doing so, the Hull KR aims to generate a positive impact for the local communities and the wider City through their proposals which would contribute significantly to wider rejuvenation efforts ongoing in East Hull by the Hull City Council.

If successful, the proposals would see significant investment into the sport and leisure facilities with the development of three training pitches with one available for public use, new outdoor sporting facilities and the rejuvenation of the Waudby Centre (leisure center in Hull, England).

Proposals would also bring forward two large-scale retail stores which would be occupied by the leading brands of United Kingdom in addition to the development of a retail terrace, open, public spaces, the refurbishment of the Waudby Centre, and adequate car parking facilities to support the master plan. Some initial future enhancements to the Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium itself have also been outlined within the plans.

Put in Paul Lakin, Chief Executive, Hull KR, “We are delighted to finally be able to share our plans with our supporters. As an ambitious club dedicated to the fans and the City we represent we are incredibly proud to share our vision for the master plan with the public – which could mean big opportunities for the communities and for the people’s lives within the City and for the club itself. This scheme aims to significantly enhance the stadium footprint and turn us into an impressive sporting campus in East Hull. When we purchased the stadium and option on the surrounding land in 2022 we said the Sewell Group Craven Park would be our forever home and these proposals are testament to that. They will set a legacy – long beyond the current custodian’s ownership – securing the future of our club, bettering our City and opening up fantastic opportunities for the local young people – providing the right investment and infrastructure to help them to lead happier and healthier lives.”

Concluded Lakin, “Crucially for the club the proposals will provide improved training pitches for all levels and a dedicated hub and place of work for the Men’s first team and our Academy pathway with all the facilities they need in one building for the first time ever. We’ve been purposely quiet on the project, so many ambitious stadium plans get announced and then end up on the cutting room floor. We were determined that wouldn’t happen with this so we are announcing now with as much of the preparation work and due diligence done as possible to give the scheme the best possibly chance of succeeding at public consultation and then planning approval. We invite everyone to have their say on the plans and help to secure the best possible outcomes for the communities across East Hull and beyond.”

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