BBC SPORT | FULHAM | Fulham granted stadium approval

Fulham have been granted permission for a �70m redevelopment of Craven Cottage.

The club, now promoted to the First Division, were given the go-ahead by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the Government Office of London..

The club received notification that the Environment Secretary had decided not to intervene and that it was left for the local council to authorise as they see fit.

Owner Mohamed Al Fayed's plans for a 30,000-capacity stadium were given the go-ahead by Hammersmith and Fulham Council's planning committee on 28 February.

Mohamed Al Fayed
Al Fayed has invested a lot of his own money in Fulham's regeneration
Manager Jean Tigana said: "It is fantastic news. I want my Fulham team to attract the best players and to play in Europe and a new stadium is important for both of these."

And naturally chairman Mohamed Al Fayed joined Tigana in celebrating the news.

"Today is a momentous day in the history of Fulham Football Club and I am truly delighted for all of the management, players, staff and fans of the club who have worked so hard in securing this decision," he said.

Fulham are to play one more season at Craven Cottage, after which the ground will be demolished in the summer of 2002.

Fulham will be forced to play their home games in another ground for the 2002-3 season while the new stadium is built, in time for 2003-4, Fulham hope.

Al Fayed is funding part of the redevelopment by remortgaging his Harrods store.


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