London Mayor Boris Johnson Urges Tottenham Hotspur To Pursue Stadium Redevelopment

London mayor Boris Johnson has called on Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (THFC) to press ahead with plans for the redevelopment of its White Hart Lane stadium in London.

Both the mayor and Haringey Council leader Claire Kober, have urged the Premier League club to pursue "urgently" its Northumberland Development Project (NDP).

THFC has now received all the necessary planning approval to move forward with the plans, which include a new 56,250-seat stadium designed by KSS. However, the NDP will also contribute to the regeneration of the surrounding area, with the proposals also including the provision of a hotel and new public spaces.

Greater London Authority (GLA) and Haringey Council officials met with the club on 28 September to put forward a £17m funding package towards the regeneration aspect of the scheme. The package means that the club will be "relieved" of all planning gain requirements that would have been required in a bid to kick-start the NDP.

Johnson said: "Last month's riots were a telling reminder of just how important it is for Spurs to press ahead with the development at Northumberland Park and to help kick-start a much wider regeneration project. The club knows there is no more money available from the public purse and I sincerely hope that they accept the offer we have made."

THFC chair Daniel Levy had previously criticised a lack of public funding support available for the scheme, and had sought to relocate the club to the Olympic Stadium.

Source: leisureopportunities.co.uk