Arsenal unveil new stadium plans

Plans for the new home of Arsenal Football Club

Arsenal have unveiled development plans for a new £100m 60,000-seater stadium.

The proposed state-of-the-art stadium at Ashburton Grove, Islington, will be more than four tiers high and will include the Arsenal museum and shop, as well as restaurants and bars.

The English Premiership club are hopeful of locating a new sports and community centre next to the new ground, as well as administration offices.

The Gunners want to develop land in the Lough Road and Eden Grove area, which has been derelict and under-used for over 20 years.

Our proposals will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area

  Ken Friar, club director

Discussions are already underway with landowners Railtrack, Sainsbury and Peabody Trust for the redevelopment of the six-hectare site.

Planning applications have been submitted to the London Borough of Islington, who have indicated they would be prepared to recommend compulsory purchase of any property necessary.

Arsenal are hoping to get permission for the development by next spring and aim to kick off the season in 2004-5 at their new stadium.

Club director Ken Friar said: "The new stadium will be a stunning addition to the area and will provide a landmark building of which everyone can be proud.

"Our proposals will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area by safeguarding and creating 3,500 jobs, providing over 1,000 new homes and injecting over £400m of investment into the area.

"For over 20 years the Lough Road area has been a blot on the Islington landscape.

Designers behind Sydney's stadium are involved

"These proposals will provide substantial public benefit and, unlike previous failed schemes, can be delivered."

The club's plans for the redevelopment of its current ground at Highbury include preserving the East and West Stands by converting them into new apartments.

Two new housing developments, which incorporate flats and mews housing, along with light industrial units and a restaurant, will replace the existing North and South Stands.

Architects HOK Sport, the designers behind Sydney's Olympic stadium and the new Wembley, are involved in the project.

The new stadium has yet to be given a name but it has been indicated it will not be called Highbury.