Planning officers have recommended the granting of planning permission for AFC Wimbledon’s new stadium at Plough Lane ahead of the matter being considered by a Merton Borough Council planning committee next week.
The Dons are looking to build a 20,000-seater arena, with an initial capacity of up to 11,000, on the site which is currently home to stock car and greyhound racing.
Wimbledon first handed in outline plans back in September 2013 and stepped up their bid to return to their spiritual home by submitted the next set of documents in November last year.
They were given the green light to formally submit the proposal when a report by an independent inspector confirmed the Plough Lane side was suitable for “Sporting Intensification”.
A number of revisions were made to the plans in the summer and the proposal has been subject to two rounds of statutory consultation.
This resulted in around 7,000 responses to the consultation, with more than 75 per cent of respondents living in the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth stating their support for the application.
And now the long wait is almost over with the news that a planning committee will hear the application on Thursday and they will have the power to either approve or reject the proposal.
In advance of that meeting, the council have published an exhaustive document which details the agenda item and recommends that permission should be granted, subject to a S106 legal agreement and conditions.
The all-important showdown will take place at the Merton Civic Centre from 7.15pm on December 10.
Read more: What revisions were made to the original Plough Lane plans in the summer?
