EPL club Chelsea on Friday confirmed that it has submitted an offer, in conjunction with development partner Almacantar, to acquire the 39-acre Battersea Power Station site for a potential new 60,000-seat stadium. The club said that the bid process could take a number of months. Chelsea said that per its redevelopment plan, the station's four chimneys, its wash towers and several other features would be restored and retained. The plan also includes retail space, housing and offices (Chelsea). The club has "stressed that no final decision has been taken on moving from Stamford Bridge" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 5/4).
The stadium would also "boast a 15,000-seat one-tier stand behind the south goal, the largest of its kind in the world." The stadium would be made up of four separate stands instead of a bowl design, a "decision reached after extensive consultation" with the club's fans. Chelsea believes that, "should the bid be successful and the decision be made to leave Stamford Bridge, construction would take three to four years" (LONDON TIMES, 5/5).
