British Government Approves Tottenham's Plans For New 58,000-Seat Stadium

Tottenham's plans "to build a new 58,000-capacity stadium" on a site next to its White Hart Lane home is "set to go ahead" following government approval, according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Spurs, which have played at White Hart Lane since 1899, "hope to move into the new ground in 2017." Spurs "have been clearing land next to White Hart Lane for two years" and, as the government "has approved the final stages of their plans, building work can now begin." The club has "a waiting list for season tickets of more than 20,000 fans." The move to a bigger stadium "will vastly increase revenue and therefore allow Spurs to challenge better for domestic and European honours" (REUTERS, 7/12). The BBC reported more than 95% of the site "has been approved and the order will allow the final of three phases to go ahead." U.K. Communites Secretary Eric Pickles said, "This scheme is supported by the locally determined development plan for the area and has received strong local support" (BBC, 7/12).