An artist's rendering of the new AFC Wimbledon stadium that is set to open in '20.afc wimbledon
League One side AFC Wimbledon "is the latest London team to get a new stadium that will incorporate hundreds of homes in the development," according to Anna White of the London EVENING STANDARD. The 12-acre site became available last year when Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium closed. It is "already in the early stages of conversion into London’s newest football stadium -- along with 604 new homes." AFC Wimbledon, born 17 years ago after the original Wimbledon FC moved to Milton Keynes and "morphed" into League Two side MK Dons, "has been sharing a home ground in Kingston" but should move into its new 10,000-seat ground in '20, "just as new homeowners are unpacking." The first 114 homes, at Stadia Three, Wimbledon Grounds, are now on sale in three seven-story brick apartment buildings with shop space beneath. Prices for a one-bedroom flat of nearly 600 square feet in this initial phase start from £425,000 ($565,000). While 400 homes will be for private sale, the remaining 204 "can be bought through shared ownership," meaning 30% of the site will be classed as "affordable." The AFC Wimbledon stadium "is not the only such scheme under way in London that will bring much-needed homes." New research "reveals 3,600 homes will be delivered by five clubs in the capital through stadium-to-residential conversions." The study by property consultancy JLL showed that Arsenal, Tottenham, League Championship side Brentford, AFC Wimbledon and EPL club West Ham "account for this jump in housing stock" (EVENING STANDARD, 6/13).
