Chelsea stadium plans put on hold

Chelsea’s plans for their new 60,000-seater stadium have been put on hold.

The Blues are looking to redevelop Stamford Bridge and were hopeful of taking up residency of their new stadium in 2021.

But they have announced that proposal has been put on ice, with the club pointing to an “unfavourable investment climate” as the reasoning behind the decision.

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.

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.

But such issues no longer require immediate attention as the Blues look set to stay put for the foreseeable future.

With a capacity of 41,631, 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 set to open later this year.