Chelsea football club’s new £500million stadium will be a help not a hindrance to the borough, according to a prominent hotel in the area.
Hammersmith & Fulham council announced on Wednesday, January 11 they had accepted the Blues’ planning application for a new 60,000-seat stadium to be built within the grounds of Stamford Bridge.
La Reserve Hotel is located just 140 metres away from the ground in Fulham Broadway, and general manager Hamed Nazam believes the redevelopment will bring benefits to the whole area.
He said: “The design of the new stadium is really good, when a goal goes in now we won’t even hear it.
“The links to the underground are also much better. On a match day Fulham Road can be closed for up to four hours.
“With the links that will be in place with Fulham Broadway this won’t be a problem anymore.”
Stamford Bridge is currently able to hold nearly 42,000 spectators but in order to increase the capacity demolition will have to take place on the existing stadium.
The final verdict was reached after an unanimous vote on Wednesday evening during a meeting between Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Planning and Development Control Committee.
Council leader Stephen Cowan echoed the sentiments of Mr Nazam, insisting the demolition work would not have an adverse effect on the community.
“Chelsea’s new stadium will deliver some real benefits to the borough,” he said.
“But we have also made it clear to the club that we fully expect them to work with local residents to minimise the disruption of the works.
“We are happy to help usher in this exciting new phase in Chelsea FC’s history.
“And we will continue to work hard to deliver as many protections and benefits as possible for the area by working with the club and local residents.”
The stadium will be constructed by architects Herzog and de Meuron, who also designed the famous ‘Birds Nest’ Olympic stadium in Beijing, and funded by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Nearby rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also currently redeveloping their home stadium, White Hart Lane, while West Ham United began the season at the London Stadium – the home stadium used at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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