Bosses at Hull Kingston Rovers have put forward plans for a new 'sports campus' on land near the club's Sewell Group Craven Park stadium.

Heads of terms have already been signed with what are described as two large retailers who the club says have the potential to bring more than 100 jobs to the site to the east of Craven Park. The plans also include space for small businesses, green space and community facilities including the existing Waudby Centre, across 15 acres of land which the Super League club has an option to buy from Hull City Council.

Paul Sewell, chairman of Rovers, said: "The vision is a sports campus. It will be the cornerstone of our plans for the future and will build on the potential of other projects which we have already delivered and which are creating a legacy for the community. We will be going for planning permission in the spring and we are encouraged by the response to the pre-application process. We aim to have spades in the ground within a few months of permission being granted."

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Dr Sewell, who is also chair of Hull-based Sewell Group, was appointed club chair after his business secured a deal for the naming rights of Craven Park in 2022. He is leading a new board which includes the co-founder of MKM Building Supplies, David Kilburn; managing director of London-based Oil Brokerage Ltd, James McNicol and director of professional services at Sewell Group, Becky Oughtibridge.

Investment into the club has included the launch of a 3G community pitch last month and an extension to the east stand that will be ready for the new season. The stadium is also set to host pop megastars Coldplay for two gigs in August this year - the band's only shows outside of London.

In tandem with the sports campus plans, the board has also launched the Hull Kingston Rovers Business Academy which will run a development programme starting this month.

Mike Ellis, managing director of the performance marketing agency 43 Clicks North, said: "Running a business can be isolating so meeting people who are on similar pathways and facing the same challenges is a great opportunity and to do that whilst discussing Rovers is an added bonus. From a personal development perspective, I thought what better way to progress than to learn from those who have already been there and done it? The club’s approach, giving business academy members direct access to the power board, means there are a lot of skill sets available to draw from."

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