Chelsea have announced plans for their new 60,000-seater stadium have been put on hold indefinitely due to an “unfavourable investment climate”.
The Blues are looking to redevelop Stamford Bridge and were hopeful of taking up residency of their new stadium in 2021.
But now that proposal has been put on ice, with the club admitting they are unsure when they will resurrect the plan – if they do at all.
“Chelsea football Club announces today that it has put its new stadium project on hold. No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur,” a statement released on the club’s official website read.
“The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision. The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate.”
After plans to relocate failed to materialise, it appeared Chelsea were set to remain at Stamford Bridge, albeit with a vastly improved facility.
Planning approval had been received from Hammersmith and Fulham Council while potential snags, including compensation for local properties, had all been put in place.
A short-term move to Wembley have also come under question recently.
Suggestions of a short-term move to Wembley while the work was carried out came under question when Fulham owner Shahid Khan revealed his plans to buy the stadium from the football Association.
Twickenham, the home of England Rugby, proved not to be a viable option but such issues no longer require immediate attention as the Blues look set to remain put for the foreseeable future.
With a capacity of just over 41,000, Stamford Bridge is the eighth-largest Premier League stadium and is dwarfed in the capital by Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, the London Stadium – which is occupied by West Ham – and the new Tottenham ground that is set to open later this year.
Copy provided by Press Association Sport
