Chelsea submit plans for 60,000-seat stadium

Chelsea have submitted a planning application to build a new 60,000-seat stadium at Stamford Bridge.

The current 41,600-seat stadium would be demolished under the proposals, which will be examined by Hammersmith & Fulham Council. The planning process will last until at least May.

In a statement on the club website, Chelsea said that the new ground would see “facilities improved for every area” and offer an “outstanding view” from every seat in a stadium “designed to create an exciting atmosphere”.

Chelsea have played at the Bridge since 1905 but have been assessing options in recent years because the capacity is significantly less than the stadia of rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich initially favoured a move to a new stadium and in 2012 described the extension of the current site as “not feasible or viable”.

However, plans to relocate faced some opposition from fans, while the club have also been restricted by a lack of suitable sites available in London.

In June 2012, a bid by Chelsea to build a new stadium on the site of Battersea Power Station was rejected.