February 26 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have taken another step along the path in the £400 million renovation of their White Hart Lane ground, with Mayor of London Boris Johnson giving his stamp of approval and ratifying the scheme that is rooted in a regeneration of the local area.
Spurs have already begun building work and the approval was in reality only a necessary formality as Haringey council had green lighted the plan in December 2015.
But it keeps the project momentum going with Spurs hoping to move into the new 61,000 capacity stadium for the start of the 2018/19 season. This will mean a temporary home will be required for at least the 2017/18 season, with Wembley being the most likely venue.
Johnson, a keen supporter of the scheme, especially after local rivals West Ham United had secured the tenure at London’s Olympic Stadium, said: “White Hart Lane is already an iconic stadium, steeped in history, and the new venue will not only almost double its capacity, but provide world-class facilities to watch Premier League football, international sports events and concerts in the heart of the capital.
“The stadium will also be the focal point of a major drive to regenerate Tottenham, breathing new life into the area, creating jobs and boosting growth.”
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “This marks yet another major milestone for this vital and complex scheme…We remain focussed on completing the final stages of the planning process.
“This new scheme carries enormous public benefits and will play a key role in kick-starting place change, bringing exceptional opportunities for the local community and wider stakeholders. We are proud to be part of this important step forward for an area that has been our home for more than 130 years and where we shall continue to live and play our part.”
Building work is already in progress on the site for the new stadium. The club has a live image feed of the construction progress at White Hart Lane that updates every 10 minutes on their website at http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/new-scheme/stadium-tv/
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734858703labto1734858703ofdlr1734858703owedi1734858703sni@n1734858703osloh1734858703cin.l1734858703uap1734858703