Shahid Khan Announces Work on Riverside Stand Starts This Summer
Fulham FC Chairman says it will 'create a world-class destination for fans and guests'
Fulham Football Club has announced that it has signed an agreement with lead contractor Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd on 22 May, for the demolition and development of the Riverside Stand, beginning this summer.
A message from the club's Charman, Shahid Khan, to supporters says: "The new stand will not only increase the seating capacity at Craven Cottage but also enhance amenities to the ground and locality for supporters, residents and visitors to enjoy."
Designed by architect Populous, the development will
transform the riverside walkway with a pathway that will allow an uninterrupted walk along the banks of the River Thames between Hammersmith and Putney Bridges.
The club believes that the design of the Riverside Stand is sympathetic to Fulham Football Club's location, the River Thames and the environment. It also states that importantly, "the Riverside development reaffirms Craven Cottage as the home of Fulham Football Club, both for now and future generations".
Throughout the two-year build, there will be ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, and regular updates on the progress of the development will be made available.
Shahid Khan's message says: "I am delighted to now be able to formally announce that our work on the Riverside Stand development will begin in earnest this summer.
"I understand today’s announcement was many years in the making, but the right thing for all parties was to be deliberate, collaborative and thorough.
"I thank our supporters for their patience, and am especially grateful to all those who have worked tremendously hard behind the scenes to bring us to this point. The wait will be worth it.
"Craven Cottage is a unique and inspiring venue to not only play football, but to visit. As I noted upon becoming Chairman in 2013, it has always been my intention to follow through with the development of the Riverside Stand, and today’s news brings that intention to reality.
"Make no mistake, the Riverside development will be a location like no other, a real game-changer for Fulham Football Club, our neighbourhood, and all of London. Our aim is to create a world-class destination for fans and guests to experience and enjoy, whilst retaining the charm that Craven Cottage exudes within our very own section of the River Thames.
" In doing so, we will also safeguard the Club’s future at Craven Cottage, forever the rightful home for Fulham.”
The club anounced in January this year that the renovation was scheduled to start at the end of the season, with the hope that the expansion of the 4,689-seater stand would be complete in time for the 2021/22 season.
The stand is is being rebuilt with a two-tiered replacement, pictured above, which will see the stadium’s capacity increase from 25,700 to close to 30,000.
While the £100 million works are underway, Fulham will continue playing at their Craven Cottage home at a reduced capacity.
Fielder's Meadow, the open area at the western end of Bishops Park next to the stadium will be closed to the public while it is used as a works compound. You can read more about this here
Construction company Buckingham Group Contracting will lead the process, working closely with architects Populous, on the new stand which will feature a new river wall and creation of a new public riverside walk.
The planning application for the redevelopment was as follows:
Demolition of the Riverside Stand and partial reconfiguration of the Putney Stand (western end) and Hammersmith Stand (western end), and removal of four floodlight masts; and the development of a new Riverside Stand providing two tiers of seating (creating an overall seating capacity of up to 29,600); a new extended section of riverside walkway; basement; leisure/retail provision for A1, A3, A4, A5, D2 use classes; 9 serviced apartments (Use Class C1); parking; a new river wall; a temporary construction river platform and construction compound; and associated landscaping (including boundary work), lighting (including new and replacement floodlighting) and ground works and all ancillary or incidental works and structures.
It can be seen in full, along with supporting documents here.
May 23, 2019
