Chelsea shelve Stamford Bridge redevelopment plans due to ‘unfavourable investment climate’

The club had drawn up complex plans for an estimated £1bn project to turn their current stadium into a 60,000 capacity venue

Plans to redevelop Chelsea’s stadium are on hold (Getty)

Chelsea have put ambitious plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge on hold “due to the current unfavourable investment climate”, the club have announced.

The club had drawn up complex plans for an estimated £1bn project to turn their current stadium into a 60,000 capacity venue, having overcome a number of obstacles including an injunction from local homeowners in west London.

However, on Thursday Chelsea revealed the plans were to be shelved with no proposed timeline to revisit them.

“Chelsea Football Club announces today that it has put its new stadium project on hold. No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur,” a club statement read. “The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision.

“The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate.”

There remains great uncertainty both on and off the pitch, with the futures of key players like Eden Hazard and Willian uncertain, while the manager Antonio Conte could depart this summer.

The club’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is currently waiting for his UK visa to be renewed after it expired last month.