In March Khan’s predecessor, Boris Johnson, called in the plans at Plough Lane for a 20,000-seat stadium – with an initially capacity of 11,000 – plus 602 homes built by Galliard Homes along with a crèche, café, squash and fitness club, auto and coach parking.
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AFC Wimbledon’s plans to redevelop the current site of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium include the construction of 602 residential units, and could see the capacity of the proposed new stadium increased to 20,000.
‘We welcome this decision and we hope that in the near future Merton Council will confirm that the planning application has been granted’.
After a two-week consultation, Khan has decided Merton Council should make the decision on the stadium.
But the project was put on hold after Boris Johnson called the plans in for review in March 2016.
Merton Council has welcomed the decision saying it is “absolutely thrilled”.
“We look forward to the homecoming of this much-loved and well-deserving team”, Alambritis added.
It is looking very likely the proposed stadium move will now go ahead, with the planning committee previously agreeing the application to build the stadium and amenities including shops, gym and flats, December past year.
The people with Wimbledon and Merton are somewhat divided on the decision with some seeing it as a benifit and a great thing for the town and others skeptical of the move.
“This is a bitter disappointment for Earlsfield and Tooting residents who will bear the brunt of this excessive development”.
‘The Mayor openly opposed this scheme when he was MP for Tooting so it’s hard to understand why he’s now cheering for its “great benefits”.
“Nothing has changed and it certainly doesn’t meet his mayoral planning policies on air quality or affordable housing”.
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A spokesperson for the council raised concerns the number of new homes plus a stadium will create unreasonable pressure on the area’s transport network.
