Chelsea’s plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a "state-of-the-art" £500M ($612M) stadium have been approved by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, according to Nicholas Godden of the LONDON TIMES. Chelsea received planning permission from Hammersmith & Fulham Council in January to build a new 60,000-seat venue on the site of its ground but "still required final approval" from Khan. It was expected that Khan "would back the proposal after it was unanimously approved at the planning committee" and the club has been "given the green light" to the development that will increase capacity by around 18,500. Chelsea is "expected to use Wembley for three years while building work takes place at Stamford Bridge" and the new stadium could be ready for the '21-22 season. The club "will need permission" from Chelsea Pitch Owners to move temporarily. CPO "owns the freehold for the pitch and stands at Stamford Bridge, and must grant permission for the club to leave." Khan said, "Having taken a balanced view of the application, I’m satisfied this is a high-quality and spectacular design which will significantly increase capacity within the existing site. ... I’m confident this new stadium will be a jewel in London’s sporting crown." The new stadium has been designed by Herzog & de Meuron -- the architects "behind Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and the Bird’s Nest stadium used to host the 2008 Beijing Olympics." Plans "also include the construction of an elevated walkway over the nearby District Line, linking the stadium to Fulham Broadway station" (LONDON TIMES, 3/6). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported Chelsea said that Khan's decision was a "significant step" toward the new stadium, which currently has a capacity of 41,600, but "some hurdles remained." Chelsea said, "Further steps lie ahead, both during and after the planning process, before construction work can commence." The current ground dates back to 1877 and has been home to the west London club since 1905. Chelsea's three main London rivals "either have or are building larger stadiums than their previous homes." Arsenal plays at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur is building a new White Hart Lane ground "with a similar capacity" and West Ham United plays in the London Stadium (REUTERS, 3/6). ESPN.com's Liam Twomey reported a "more detailed design for the stadium must now be completed, while further collaborative work with Network Rail and Transport for London is required to ensure the safe and efficient passage of thousands of supporters to and from Stamford Bridge on match days" (ESPN.com, 3/6).
