Chelsea eye Earl’s Court for new stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, September 17^th, 2024

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Chelsea have held talks over leaving their Stamford Bridge home and moving to a site in nearby Earl’s Court in London.

The Guardian newspaper said discussions have been held with Transport for London, one of the partners that looks after the potential Earl’s Court site, and the real estate developer Delancey.

Chelsea are understood to have drawn up plans and to have identified the Lillie Bridge Depot as the area on which to build.

Lillie Bridge Depot is a historic English traction maintenance depot on the London Underground Piccadilly and District lines, situated between West Brompton and West Kensington stations in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, West London (UK). Founded in 1905, they play their home games at Stamford Bridge. The club competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football.

The 40,341-capacity Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, adjacent to the borough of Chelsea in West London (UK). It is the home of the Premier League club Chelsea F.C. With a capacity of 40,343, it is the ninth largest venue of the 2023-2024 Premier League seasons and the 11th largest football stadium in England.

Chelsea are currently seeking a resolution to their plans for a bigger stadium. Increasing the capacity from 40,343 is a major priority for the owners and the difficulty of redeveloping the ground has led the club to look for a new site in west London.

The club recently opened up the option of extending their current home after completing the purchase of a 1.2-acre site next to Stamford Bridge from Stoll, a housing charity for veterans.

Chelsea have not ruled out staying where they are in West London but there has been no progress in any plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge.

The Earl’s Court Development Committee (ECDC) wants to build a mixed-use development and no football stadium is included in its master plan, which is due to be presented to Hammersmith and Fulham council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council.

A spokesperson for the ECDC told the Guardian, “There is no plan within our plans for Chelsea FC to relocate to the Earl’s Court site. We have a fully detailed design, shortly to be registered with both local authorities, which prioritises the delivery of thousands of homes and jobs, culture and open space through a well-designed and considered master plan which has evolved over four years of engagement.

“This will see development commence in 2026 with the first residents and occupiers moving in from 2030. This is, and will remain, our primary focus.”

The ECDC will be able to move ahead if it receives planning permission and that would place a major obstacle in Chelsea’s way.

The Guardian further stated, however, that key figures involved in planning in London believe the ECDC plans could be too expensive. That could help Chelsea because a multiuse football stadium would in those circumstances be attractive.

There would be the potential to build affordable housing on the site if Chelsea’s plan is approved. Chelsea would need to submit a bid for Earl’s Court, with a source saying a conservative estimate of its value could be about £500m.

The club would need an agreement with Chelsea Pitch Owners, which holds the freehold of Stamford Bridge stadium and could block any attempt to move.

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