Exciting plans to turn Stamford Bridge into a “cathedral of sport” have been unveiled by Chelsea.

The Premier League champions released details of their plans to expand their home ground from 41,798 seats into a 60,000 capacity stadium.

For fans and people living next to the ground in Fulham it was a first chance to view the plans, shown at an exhibition at the ground’s Under The Bridge venue.

All four sides of the ground will be replaced with a stadium heavily inspired by Gothic architecture and cathedrals such as Westminster Abbey.

It said at the exhibition: “These are the themes which have guided the professional team, a proud homage to Westminster Abbey and its connection to the football club, both institutions emblematic of the capital city.”

Westminster Abbey

Fans who spoke to Get West London at the exhibition gave a cautious but warm welcome to the early plans, and nearby businesses also said they would be happy to see capacity increase by 50%.

But there are many who will not look forward to seeing the stadium expand, said one man working nearby, and a prominent member of the community feared the impact rebuilding the stadium would have on the surrounding area.

Fan Peter Smith said at the exhibition: “Generally I’m quite positive. I like the fact we’ll be able to have a grand new purpose built stadium. Hopefully everyone will get a better view because some thought has gone into it.”

John Phillips added: “We have a very nice stadium now but we need something bigger to keep up with other teams. We need bigger crowds.”

And another said: “We don’t want to move, so a solution needed to be found and hopefully this is it, it’s certainly something to think about.”

The proposed South Stand

Outside on Fulham Road, businesses welcomed the expansion. Joanna Lorente from Brazil Bar and Pizzeria said: “It is important to our borough and our business. It is more people and more money (for) Hammersmith and Fulham, and the supporters are happy because they want to stay in Fulham.”

But Ali Muhammad, from Village Stores newsagents, was more cautious. He said: “It will be good for business, but if you ask the people that live around here about 80% hate it when there’s a match.

“They don’t feel comfortable walking around the area. Young mothers have told me they don’t like it, they feel vulnerable and exposed.”

Maya Donelan is the honorary secretary of the Fulham Society. Speaking from a personal view, she said: “I’m happy to have Chelsea’s football ground there because it’s part of our history and I fell they have to expand.

“The problem I have is how they’re going to build it in a very enclosed place.

“I think it’s a very big stadium and I don’t know how they’re going to get it built.”

She also said other nearby developments nearby such as the Earls Court development, could cause chaos, saying: “It’s going to be an absolute nightmare.”

General view before the match

As well as improving the match day experience for fans, the club hope the new stadium will benefit the local community. Chelsea say it will deliver apprenticeship schemes, work in the community with children in school all the way up to senior citizens and help improve adult social care and tackle antisocial behaviour.

It is expected Chelsea will have to play their home games at a different venue while Stamford Bridge is expanded, with Wembley and Twickenham Rugby Stadium mooted as possibilities.

It is thought the cost of the new build will be around £500 million .

The exhibition ran from Tuesday (June 30) to Thursday (July 2).