FFC to tender new stadium work

Fulham Football Club is to appoint design consultancies to work on designs for its new stadium, following the Government’s decision to back the club’s plans for the £70m redevelopment of its Craven Cottage home.

Work on the stadium is expected to start next year, now that the club has been told there will be no public inquiry into proposals for the 30 000-seat ground. The plan has already received approval from Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Snell Associates is the appointed lead architect and will provide interior design services.

Though the go-ahead by the council was given in February, there was a four-week period where any objectors to the stadium proposals could air their concerns with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

There has been strong opposition to the scheme by some local residents.

The arena, to be built on the site of the current Craven Cottage stadium, is expected to be completed by the summer of 2003.

It is looking increasingly certain that Fulham, which sits at the top of the Nationwide Division One, will be promoted to the FA Carling Premiership at the end of the current season.