A Bridge too far? Timeline of the stadium project

October 2011

Chelsea start feasibility studies for a new stadium. Roman Abramovich fails in an attempt to buy the land on which Stamford Bridge sits from Chelsea Pitch Owners.

March 2012

Chelsea say the cost, put at £600million, of a new stadium at Stamford Bridge makes it unfeasible and still hold hopes of convincing CPO to sell the site to trigger a potential move.

May 2012

Chelsea bid to buy Battersea Power Station and develop a 60,000-seat stadium, but lose out to a Malaysian property firm.

2014

Chelsea appoint architects Herzog and De Meuron to design a stadium on the Stamford Bridge site.

December 2015

Architects reveal ambitious plans for a stadium with a 60,000 capacity, including platforms over part of the District Line and Southern main line, in an attempt to gain planning permission. The target date for Chelsea to move in is the 2020-21 season.

January 2017

Chelsea receive planning approval from Hammersmith and Fulham borough council, with the new aim to move in for the 2021-22 season. A Chelsea statement reads: “The council’s planning committee considered the application and we are grateful that planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of our historic home.”

March 2017

Chelsea announce that the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, supports the council’s decision to grant planning permission. Kahn says: “I’m confident this will be a jewel in London’s sporting crown and will attract visitors and fans from around the world.”

May 20, 2018

It emerges that Abramovich’s UK visa has expired and British authorities have not issued a new one, so he is unable to work in the UK.

May 31, 2018

Chelsea announce plans for the new stadium have been put on hold due to “the current unfavourable investment climate”. A statement adds: “No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur. The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision.”

March 2020

Chelsea release a short statement on their website confirming that the planning permission they obtained for a new stadium will expire on March 31.