The new Chelsea stadium will result in £22million in benefits for the local community, Hammersmith and Fulham Council has said.
The local authority was speaking after its planning and development control committee approved plans for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge into a 60,000 capacity stadium .
The council said the club is expected to work with nearby communities who fear the disruption caused to their lives during the building of the £500million stadium, and the effects of increased capacity, after its construction.
The club itself said in a statement that it had consulted widely with the community and that there were many more hurdles to clear before building - expected to take four years - can begin .
Chelsea must begin work on the stadium in Fulham Road, Fulham, within three years before the approval expires.
Council leader Stephen Cowan welcomed the committee’s decision.
He said: “Chelsea’s new stadium will deliver some real benefits to the borough.
"But we have also made it clear to the club that we fully expect them to work with local residents to minimise the disruption of the works.
"We are happy to help usher in this exciting new phase in Chelsea FC’s history.
"And we will continue to work hard to deliver as many protections and benefits as possible for the area by working with the club and local residents."
In its statement, released minutes after the application was granted at the late-night meeting on Wednesday (January 11), Chelsea said it consulted widely with neighbouring residents, local businesses, statutory authorities and continued to work closely with the council.
“Tonight the council’s planning committee considered the application and we are grateful that planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of our historic home,” said the Chelsea FC statement.
“The committee decision does not mean that work can begin on site.
"This is just the latest step, although a significant one, that we have to take before we can commence work, including obtaining various other permissions.”
Hammersmith and Fulham said it had been scrutinising the application since 2015, and that the £22m it has secured in benefits for the local community include a £3.75m contribution to build affordable housing for local residents, as well as the promised improvement of local leisure, recreation and sporting facilities in the borough.
The council and the club will now finalise the Section 106 grant - a financial agreement made between developers and a council - to capture the community benefits that the club has agreed to provide.
Chelsea will also create a new "Business and Community Liaison Group" to inform residents and companies of the different stages of the demolition and construction programme, working hours and to provide a 24-hour contact for residents and businesses if they have a concern about the works.
Bird and bat boxes will be installed during the works to help protect local wildlife, as well as at least 427 cycle racks in the development.
The redeveloped Stamford Bridge will see decking platforms built over the District Line to the north-west and over the Southern rail line to the east.
Once the works are completed, pedestrians will be able to walk to the ground on match days from Fulham Broadway Station and Fulham Road, with motorists able to access the site via Wansdown Place.
Stamford Bridge’s current capacity is 41,663, making it the seventh biggest in the Premier League.
Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.
You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.
Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android now!
