AFC Wimbledon have been granted permission to return to build a new stadium on Plough Lane.
The team, who were formed in 2002 after Wimbledon FC received approval from the FA on their plans to relocate to Milton Keynes, currently play at Kingstonian's Stadium, Kingsmeadow.
The original Wimbledon FC played at Plough Lane for most of their history, but moved to Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park in 1991. The team would never return to Plough Lane, playing at Selhurst Park for 22 years before controversially relocating to Milton Keynes in 2003 and renaming to Milton Keynes Dons in 2004. The old Plough Lane stadium is now a housing development.
Officials from AFC Wimbledon, Merton Council and GRA Acquisitions, who own the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, signed an agreement today which officially grants AFC Wimbledon to build a new stadium on the site of the existing stadium, which closed earlier this year. The stadium will have a capacity of at least 11,000 people, as well as 602 new homes, and the team are expected to move in by 2019.
Councillor Stephen Alambritis said in a press release: “After a long journey, this is a proud moment and a historic moment for Merton. Our experienced planning officers have spent a great deal of time and effort to ensure this exciting development will benefit both the greatly loved club AFC Wimbledon, as well as Merton and the many families and fans who live here."
