Chelsea get green light over Bridge rebuild

CHELSEA have been given the green light for a multimillion pound redevelopment of their Stamford Bridge stadium, the Pre mi e r L e a g u e l e a d e r s revealed on Wednesday.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the proposal for a 60,000-seat stadium, which would reportedly cost around £500 million ($610 million).

“More than a year ago, a planning application for a new stadium at Stamford Bridge with an expanded seating capacity was submitted to our local council, Hammersmith & Fulham,” a statement on Chelsea’s website confirmed.

“Over the past 12 months, we have consulted widely with neighbouring residents, local businesses, statutory authorities and continued to work closely wit h t he council.

“Tonight the council’s planning committee considered t he appl icat ion a nd we a re g ratef u l t hat pla nning permission was granted for the redevelopment of ou r h istoric home.

“The committee decision does not mean that work can begin on site. This is just the latest step, although a significant one, that we have to take before we can commence work, including obtaining various other permissions.”

Chelsea have long struggled to find a way to expand the west London stadium, their home since 1905, which holds 41,000 fans, to ensure they can compete with the l arger matchday revenues of their rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, who all have bigger grounds.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich looked at moving Chelsea to several other sites around the capital, but eventually settled on improving their historic home, which opened in 1877.

Chelsea currently have the seventh biggest ground in the Premier League and the third biggest in London, behind Arsenal and West Ham.

Tottenham will also move ahead of Chelsea when the new White Hart Lane is completed in 2018.

It is estimated however, that with the new Stamford Bridge, Chelsea could match Arsenal’s current matchday turnover of £100 million a year.

The news was welcomed by Chelsea Pitch Owners, the group which owns the freehold to the land on which the stadium sits.

A statement said: “The board of Chelsea Pitch Owners welcomes the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s approv a l of t he pla n n i ng applicat ion for t he redevel- opment of Stamford Bridge.

“We believe the plans will provide a world-class stadium and the bold architectural design will enhance the local area.