Chelsea Football Club, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is seeking approval to demolish its stadium at Stamford Bridge in London to build a bigger one.
The new stadium on the same west London site would have 60,000 seats compared with the current 41,600 as well as a club shop, cafe and museum, the London based club on its website Tuesday. London authorities are now examining the plans, and “various other consents” will be needed for the project to proceed, the team said.
Chelsea, reigning champions of England’s top soccer division, have played at Stamford Bridge for more than a century. The project could cost as much as 500 million pounds ($753 million) .
“The planning process will last beyond the end of the season,” Chelsea said on its website. “If the application is granted planning permission there will still be a lot of work to do before redevelopment can start.”
The new stadium will have direct access to Fulham Broadway station on the London subway system. The design proposed in the application was made by architect firm Herzog & de Meuron SL. The planning application with the Hammersmith & Fulham borough council is valid from Nov. 19 and comments on the plan must be received by Jan. 8.