League One side AFC Wimbledon's proposal to build a new stadium on Plough Lane "has cleared another hurdle after the government decided not to call in their plans," according to the BBC. Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Sajid Javid "is content for planning permission to be decided by the local authority." Merton Borough Council granted the Dons approval to build an initial 11,000-capacity stadium in Dec. '15. The club is "now set to redevelop Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium." Club CEO Erik Samuelson said, "Now, at long last, we can start planning with confidence to give AFC Wimbledon a secure future at the heart of the community the club represents." AFC Wimbledon's plans "were put on hold in March" when Boris Johnson, then the mayor of London, decided to review Merton council's decision to grant approval to the scheme, "following objections" from neighboring Wandsworth. However, Sadiq Khan was elected mayor in May and "last month he decided to hand the decision back to Merton" after a 14-day consultation. The council's planning committee then "rubber-stamped the application" at a meeting on Sept. 15 before it was referred to Javid's office. AFC Wimbledon reached the Football League in '11 (BBC, 9/27).
