Chelsea has moved a step closer to a new stadium after the planning and development committee of Hammersmith & Fulham Council approved plans for the English Premier League football club to rebuild its Stamford Bridge home ground.
Yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) approval grants Chelsea permission to build a new stadium on the site of Stamford Bridge, the club’s home since 1905. The project is expected to cost at least £500m (€577m/$614m) and could be completed ahead of the 2021-22 season.
The project would expand Stamford Bridge’s capacity from 41,490 to around 60,000. In a statement, Chelsea stressed that the decision does not mean that work can begin on the site, but said the latest step was a “significant one”.
Swiss architecture firm Herzog & De Meuron, which designed the Allianz Arena in Munich and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium, has led the design on the Stamford Bridge redevelopment.
The Guardian newspaper reported that councillors described the project, which would feature vast arches made of London stock brick, as “a significant, high-quality design” and “a gorgeous building, absolutely gorgeous”.
Chelsea submitted a full planning application for the redevelopment in December 2015. The application included the demolition of the existing stadium and other surrounding buildings.
The Guardian reports that broad walkways will also be built over the two rail lines that run either side of the stadium. More than 13,000 general admission seats will be added under the plans, with the amount of corporate seats set to double to 9,200 and greater provision to be granted for disabled supporters.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Chelsea had commenced talks over the possibility of using Wembley Stadium as a temporary residence while the Stamford Bridge redevelopment work is ongoing.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Chelsea hopes to move to Wembley ahead of the 2018-19 season. Potential problems could arise as Chelsea’s London rival, Tottenham Hotspur, is due to play home games at Wembley during 2017-18 while its own new stadium is being built. Any delays to the construction of Tottenham’s new ground could lead to issues for Chelsea.
The Daily Mail suggested that Tottenham would be open to a ground share if it were needed, although it is unclear whether Chelsea would agree to such an arrangement.
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