60,000-seat new Chelsea stadium plans thrown into doubt after planning permission expires

By Owen Sheppard, Local Democracy Reporter

Chelsea Football Club’s £500 million stadium redevelopment has been thrown into further doubt after the time limit on its planning permission expired.

The Premier League club wanted to build a new 60,000-seat stadium on the site of its historic Stamford Bridge home.

The project received planning permission from Hammersmith and Fulham council in 2017 for a scheme which included a new bridge over the District line, a museum, shops and a restaurant.

Because of its scale, the plans had to be approved by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who complemented its “high-quality and spectacular design”.

But the three-year time limit to begin construction ended on Tuesday.

A statement from the club said: “Chelsea Football Club acknowledges that the planning permission we obtained for a new stadium expires on March 31, 2020.

“We are grateful to all our fans and stakeholders, especially Hammersmith and Fulham council, for their patience and understanding in the matter.

“We will continue to consider our options for a new stadium, should economic conditions improve.”

The club has not confirmed whether it will submit a new planning application for the same site it has occupied since 1876, or if it will look for a new location.

Pictured top: A computer image of the plans for the ground