The new north stand is expected to be finished by May next year and bring capacity at the Welford Road stadium up to 24,000.

Other plans for the scheme include a three-star hotel, a 450-space multi-storey car park and an educational building for people with multiple learning disabilities on behalf of the adjacent Leicester College.

The stadium capacity is set to reach 30,000 seats when further expansion is completed in the next eight to 10 years.