Plans for a major redevelopment of a southeast London football stadium have been approved, paving the way for a new 4,000-seat ground with an all-weather pitch and modern facilities.
Southwark Council planning officers have given the green light to the scheme at Dulwich Hamlet FC’s historic Champion Hill stadium, securing the long-term future of the club, which has been based in the borough for 123 years.
The council confirmed that the wider Greendale Playing Fields will not be directly affected by the development and will remain protected as open green space, continuing to support biodiversity and local recreation.
As part of the plans, the community will also benefit from a new kickabout area within the wider site, ensuring continued access to grassroots sport.
Alongside the sporting improvements, the broader redevelopment will deliver 219 new homes in the surrounding area, contributing to much-needed housing supply in the borough.
Councillor Richard Leeming, Deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for Leisure & Sports said: “This is the most vital win of the season for Dulwich Hamlet FC, a cherished club in Southwark’s history and culture, who can now plan for a bright future supported by thousands of fans in a modern new stadium.
“It’s also really important to the council and the community that this arrangement includes access to the new facilities outside of matchdays and new kickabout spaces, the preservation of current green space, and of course more vital new housing for the borough.”
Ben Clasper, Chairman of Dulwich Hamlet FC said: “The cabinet decision to approve the disposal of land is the final piece of a puzzle we have been trying to solve for many years to regenerate the area, deliver new housing and secure the long-term future of our community football club.
“There is no better Christmas present we can offer our fans than starting the first phase of our new stadium development this month and finally implementing our consented scheme.
“With this approval, the building of the new stadium will return the club to the site we were first able to call our own home more than a hundred years ago and the building of new homes will contribute to meeting the critical demand for housing in Southwark."
