Member Article

New AFC Wimbledon stadium moves a step closer after Khan intervention

AFC Wimbledon could soon be given the go ahead to build a new stadium after London Mayor Sadiq Khan overturned a decision by the former Mayor to call in a planning application for the Plough Lane development.

Plans for the Galliard Homes scheme, which includes a new 20,000 seater stadium and 602 homes, had been nixed by Boris Johnson in one of his final acts as Mayor after he ordered that the scheme, which had already been approved by Merton Borough Council, who have to undergone another round of consultation.

However, Khan has now overturned this decision following his own 14-day consultation period, with the original plans now set to go back to the council’s planning department for it to make a final decision on the plans.

The original decision by Johnson back in March, had drawn consternation from the League One club who were nonplussed as to why the former Mayor had taken issue with the scheme.

Commenting following the decision earlier in the year, Chief Executive Erik Samuelson, said: “I think you will not be surprised to hear that we are puzzled as to how this decision could come about.

“At the time of writing, we don’t fully understand the concerns that led to it, nor do we yet know the precise process and timing of the review by the GLA.”

Now the project, which is to be constructed on the site of the former Wimbledon Greyhound track, council soon be greenlit by the council as the club look to move from their current home in Kingston upon Thames.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that, after consulting with local residents and businesses, he had come to the conclusion that the scheme presents a number of benefits to the community and that the plans would now be passed back to the Merton Council to make a final decision.

He said: “I have taken the time to consult local residents, businesses and other interested parties and, having weighed up all of the evidence available to me, I’m confident the stadium and the leisure facility proposed alongside it will be of great benefit to Londoners and the wider community for generations to come.

“As such, I have decided to return the application to the local council to determine itself.”