The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust is delighted to learn that Hammersmith & Fulham Council Planning Committee have approved the planning application for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.
The Club has been at the heart of the community for 112 years and we welcome both the decision made by Mr Abramovich to redevelop the football stadium rather than move to another part of London and the Council’s unanimous decision to approve these exciting and ambitious plans. Stamford Bridge and Chelsea FC can now remain part of the community for many years to come, playing football in one of the finest Stadiums in the country and one that reflects our rich history.
Mr Abramovich’s team should be congratulated for their sensitive handling of and full engagement with supporters and the wider community in putting the planning submission together.
As supporters we are mindful that there will be much change and perhaps some inconvenience during the rebuilding period with a temporary move to another stadium and then with the move back to the new stadium once the redevelopment has been completed.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will do our best to communicate the views and concerns of Chelsea supporters to the Club during the transition and are mandated by our membership to do so.
With regard to the move to a temporary stadium we will continue to seek dialogue with the club on matters such as ticket pricing to mitigate the additional expense and inconvenience of travelling to a temporary stadium; to encourage and increase the opportunity for younger supporters to gain access to reasonably priced tickets to games in the temporary stadium and to assist with plans to create the best possible atmosphere at matches through sensitive seating plans where like-minded supporters can congregate together.
During the redevelopment we will continue to talk to the appointed consultants, the club and other relevant stakeholders to help ensure supporter opinion is properly and openly taken into account with regard to issues such as facilities, ticket pricing, safe standing, seating plans and atmosphere as we look to move back to the redeveloped stadium.
Whilst planning permission hopefully goes a long way to safeguarding the future of Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will continue to support the Chelsea Pitch Owners in their aims to keep Chelsea FC playing football in the stadium now and for generations to come.
The above statement can be downloaded as a PDF here
