Chelsea Stamford Bridge Project: New images of redevelopment offer glimpse into the future of the London derby

Chelsea entertain Tottenham at Stamford Bridge this Saturday evening – but in a few years’ time these London derby clashes could be taking place in very different surroundings.

Work is already well underway at White Hart Lane on the construction of Tottenham’s new home, being built behind their existing ground, and it is anticipated the stadium will be ready to host football matches from 2018/19.

Meanwhile, Chelsea submitted plans for their stunning vision for the new-look Stamford Bridge a year ago and a consultation period with local residents closed last month.

The Blues are looking to flatten their current home and rebuild a 60,000-seater arena in its place at an estimated cost of around £500million as billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich looks to leave a legacy in west London.

As we prepare to enter two new chapters in both Chelsea’s and Tottenham’s histories, computer scientist Neil Vano has produced a series of new images that showcase how the London derby of the future could look.

If Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council grant planning permission, Chelsea will begin preparations for the demolition and Antonio Conte’s team hope to move into the revamped Bridge in the summer of 2020.

That timescale looks increasingly ambitious, particularly given revisions were made to the original plans submitted to the council and the complexity of the documents, but was the date originally mooted for the completion of the project.

Chelsea are believed to open to the possibility of incorporating safe standing into their plans – provided the government introduces new legislation – and the club’s supporters trust are pushing for this addition at the new Bridge.

A recent Chelsea Supporters’ Trust statement read: “The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust are delighted that the plans for the new stadium seem to be progressing well and that there were satisfactory responses to many of the concerns and issues that supporters have raised.

“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will continue to press the Club to introduce ‘Safe Standing’ areas within the new stadium so that those who wish to stand whilst attending Chelsea matches at Stamford Bridge are able to do so.

“The ‘rail seating’ system advocated by the ‘Safe Standing campaign’has, this season, been introduced by Celtic Football Club at their Parkhead ground and has proved, beyond any doubt, that it is indeed a safe way of enabling supporters to stand whilst enjoying top-flight professional football matches.

“It is something that is undeniably beneficial to the atmosphere at games and we are disappointed that the Club’s safety team currently believe that it is not safe when the evidence would suggest otherwise.”

Here's a look at some of Vano's other work, which can all be found on his YouTube channel.