Chelsea hope to move step closer to Stamford Bridge development as Hammersmith and Fulham Council hear new stadium plans

Richard Parry11 January 2017

Hammersmith and Fulham Council will tonight assess a planning application from Chelsea as the club look to move a step closer to redeveloping Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s plans for the 60,000-seater development of the Bridge will be outlaid to the Planning and Development Control Committee at Hammersmith Town Hall at 7pm, with the council officer having already recommended the application be approved.

Chelsea's redevelopment project is to be funded by owner Roman Abramovich, to an estimated cost of some £500million.

The proximity of underground and overground railway lines are one of the biggest challenges for such a huge project in an area of west London which offers little wiggle room.

The Blues believe the history of Stamford Bridge is with the site, rather than the stadium itself.

The build would be complex and involve excavation, with the plan to lower the arena into the ground to achieve the capacity on a 12-acre site.

Stamford Bridge's capacity is 41,663, making it the seventh biggest in the Premier League.

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Nevetheless, it falls well short of Manchester United's 76,000-seater Old Trafford, while Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham, Sunderland and Liverpool all now boast bigger grounds.

Chelsea had previously looked at sites including Battersea Power Station for a new stadium, but concluded their ideal arena could be created at their present location.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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