Spurs close in on new stadium

TOTTENHAM have moved one step closer to a new stadium after reaching a new funding agreement with London Mayor Boris Johnson and Haringey Council.

Tottenham scrapped their plan to challenge West Ham to become the tenants of the new Olympic Stadium in Stratford and have instead committed themselves to their original plan to build a new 56,00-seater stadium – known as the Northumberland Development Project – next to White Hart Lane.

Spurs had experienced problems in getting funding from the Mayor’s office and the local council to regenerate the area around the proposed new stadium.

But that obstacle has been overcome with the announcement yesterday of a £27m support project.

Haringey Council will invest £9m towards new and improved public spaces around the stadium, while Johnson has committed £18m to the regeneration of north Tottenham.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement: “As a major employer and business in the area we are delighted with this commitment from the Mayor and the council.

History

“We have long said we could only invest in the area if we could see our commitment supported by others and that there was a real need to maximise the regeneration benefits and lift the wider area.

“We therefore see this as a commitment from the public sector to the Tottenham area and one which strengthens our ability to deliver a new stadium scheme with the potential to kickstart the long-term regeneration of north Tottenham.”

Haringey Council leader Claire Kober said: “We’ve said all along that we are eager to support the club in their efforts to stay in Tottenham.

“They are a great club with a great history in a great area which really wants them to stay.”

Around £3.5m of the mayor’s £18m support package will be spent on upgrading parts of nearby Tottenham Hale station.

Tottenham MP David Lammy, who has campaigned for the club to go ahead with the NDP, welcomed the move.

“This is excellent news for Tottenham and for the football club,” he said.