Chelsea given huge boost in plans to build brand new Earls Court stadium with Government set to back controversial move
GOVERNMENT cash could ease the way for Chelsea to move from Stamford Bridge to a new site at Earl’s Court.
Manchester United’s plans to knock down Old Trafford and build a new 100,000-capacity ground as the centrepiece of an entertainment and housing complex have been earmarked for funding from the Government.
And a similar approach from Whitehall to allow the redevelopment of the current Stamford Bridge for housing would be backed by planning chiefs in Chelsea’s home borough.
Chelsea have been linked with a move away from their home since 1905 for nearly two decades.
Plans for a £500m total rebuild for a new 60,000-capacity venue were finally confirmed in 2015.
Those plans, though, were scrapped in 2018 after former owner Roman Abramovich had his “golden visa” to stay in the UK scrapped by the then-Government following the Salisbury poisoning attack by Russian agents.
Last year, the Blues were again linked with a possible move to Earl’s Court, a mile from the ground, where the exhibition and concert centre was closed in 2014 and demolished 12 months later.
The latest plans for the redevelopment of the site include 4,000 homes, a shopping centre and a park, with no provision for a football stadium.
However, in a meeting with residents this week, Hammersmith and Fulham Council officers put the idea of the club moving to Earl’s Court back on the agenda.
The Council, which suggested there might be Government funding similar to the United plan available, now says that if the club and the Chelsea Pitch Owners – the supporter group which owns the freehold of the Stamford Bridge site – agreed on a move, it would support the proposal.
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Hammersmith and Fulham would then seek to use the 14-acre current stadium site to meet its housing needs and rejuvenate the area.
The CPO was given the freehold by former owner Ken Bates after he won his battle with development companies who threatened to bulldoze the club into the ground in the 1990s.
Provisions of that deal means that the CPO can block the club moving to another site and playing under the name of Chelsea FC without their consent.
Up in Manchester, United are planning to build a £2billion, 100,000-seater stadium.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed that she will champion the regeneration project put forward by Man Utd’s stadium task force.
The project will not only make changes to the Man Utd stadium, but will also lead to new housing, commercial and public spaces.
Red Devils bosses are yet to make a final decision on refurbishing Old Trafford or knocking it down to build a brand-new home.
While United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pushed for a new “Wembley of the north” project.
It’s reported that a final decision will be made before the end of the current season.