Stadium expansion for Chelsea

A planning application has been submitted by Chelsea Football Club to expand its London, UK, stadium from a capacity of just under 42,000 spectators to 60,000, as well as creating direct access from the nearby London Underground station and improving stadium facilities.

The application has been made to Hammersmith & Fulham Council with a consultation deadline of 8 January, 2016.

The proposal is to demolish the existing football stadium, which has a capacity of 41,600 seats, and other buildings within the ground, and to construct a new larger football stadium with a 60,000-seat capacity. Additional features include other stadium-related uses including a club shop and museum, plus a separate restaurant/café.

The new stadium would involve both excavation works and the construction of new external concourse areas.

This includes the formation of decking platforms over part of the District Line and part of the Southern mainline railway. New pedestrian access arrangements on match days would be provided from Fulham Broadway Station and Fulham Road. New vehicular access would be provided via Wansdown Place.

The club said the planning process would last beyond the end of the season, adding that if the application were granted planning permission, there would still be a great deal of work to do before redevelopment could start, including obtaining various other consents.