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Mayor approves construction of new £500m stadium for Chelsea FC

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has approved Chelsea Football Club’s plans for a state-of-the-art £500 million stadium on the site of their existing Stamford Bridge ground.

Plans for the new stadium will see Chelsea’s match-day capacity increase from 41,600 to 60,000 and will include the construction of an elevated walkway over the nearby District Line, linking the stadium to Fulham Broadway station.

Sadiq said he was satisfied the new stadium was a ‘high-quality and spectacular design’ which would significantly boost capacity for the Premier League club.

His decision today further builds on his support for London football, including his move to give the green light to a new stadium for AFC Wimbledon, which sees the ‘Dons’ set to return to their Plough Lane home nearly three decades after leaving it in 1991.

Sadiq has also made it clear he ‘wholeheartedly supports’ Millwall FC remaining in Lewisham.

Chelsea’s proposal was approved unanimously by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s planning committee in January.

The club’s application also includes an investment of £12 million in community activities, such as employment and skills training, as well as a contribution of £3.75 million towards affordable housing in the borough.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said “London is one of the world’s greatest sporting cities and I’m delighted that we will soon add Chelsea’s new stadium to the already fantastic array of sporting arenas in the capital.

“Having taken a balanced view of the application, I’m satisfied this is a high-quality and spectacular design which will significantly increase capacity within the existing site, as well as ensuring fans can have easy access from nearby transport connections.

“I’m confident this new stadium will be a jewel in London’s sporting crown and will attract visitors and football fans from around the world.”

The new stadium has been designed by architects Herzog and de Meuron – who also designed the iconic Birds Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing and the widely acclaimed Allianz Arena in Munich.

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Putting fans firmly at the top of Accrington Stanley FC’s fixture list with Canopies UK

As part of its on-going extensive redevelopment programme, Accrington Stanley Football Club enlisted the support of leading canopy manufacturer, Canopies UK, for the creation of a brand new European-style fan zone.

The club has recently unveiled a raft of measures aimed at transforming almost every element of its grounds, which includes the creation of a new 1,500 capacity all-seater stand. The work will also see a new pitch being laid and new fencing and walls being installed to create space for additional perimeter advertising boards.

Providing fans with a pre and post-match base

As a community club, Accrington Stanley wanted to develop space behind the home supporters’ stand to create a dedicated outdoor zone specifically for its fans.

“They wanted to provide their supporters with an outdoor area where they can gather and socialise with each other, as well as enjoy something to eat and drink before and after matches,” explains, Ryan Powell, Commercial Area Sales Manager at Canopies UK.

“The club felt that canopies would be the ideal solution, as they would not only provide all-year-round shelter, but create an eye-catching focal point that would really add character and flair to the overall look and feel of the fan zone.”

Canopies UK specified two of its ground-mounted Connekt umbrella-style canopies for several reasons including the fact they would be large enough to cover the standing area within the fan zone. Each spanning five meters, the canopies were of the right dimensions to shelter 25m2 floor space.

Delivering the project with no extra time

With the start of football season looming, Canopies UK had to ensure the canopies were designed, manufactured and installed in record time.

There were just four weeks between initial contact and the new season getting underway, which involved Canopies UK pulling out all of the stops to deliver the project within the tight timescale.

“We effectively had to deliver a project that would typically take around eight weeks, in half the time and still maintain the highest possible standards,” added Ryan.

“However, due to the fact that we were local and are always keen to help the local community whenever we can, we relished the challenge and managed to install the canopies with a week to spare.”

Proactivity, organisation and flexibility were pivotal to Canopies UK being able to turn the installation around in record time.

The club was provided with an official quote on the same day as Canopies UK first visiting the site, and an official order just two days later. As a result of being given prior warning, Canopies UK’s operations manager was able to conduct the site survey one day after the official order had been submitted.

The project was then planned into Canopies UK’s production schedule by reallocating other jobs, while the umbrellas were manufactured in two and-a-half weeks and installed in a day.

Canopies that are engineered for purpose

Canopies UK engineers each of its canopies in accordance with site-specific calculations. Conducted by Canopies UK’s technical surveyor, the calculations encompassed a number of technical on-site measurements, including wind speed, obstructions such as drainage systems, nearby trees and roots, as well as the terrain in which the foundations would sit.

In addition to ensuring the canopies delivered from a practical perspective, it was essential they also delivered on an aesthetic level too.

Using its bespoke colour matching service, Canopies UK customised the Connekt canopies with the club’s colours. Alternating colours of red and white were used on the roof support beams to create a unique and tailored canopy installation in keeping with the club’s traditional strip.

David Burgess, Chief Executive at Accrington Stanley Football Club, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the canopies, they’ve really brought the fan zone to life from both a practical and aesthetic perspective.

“Not only will they provide our fans with the shelter and shade they need from the elements before, and during games, they’re in our club colours, which gives the overall area a real sense of identity. They’re the perfect finishing touch for our fan zone and have been produced to the highest standard.”

For more information, contact Karen Hornby on 01254 777 002 (extension 221) or email karen@canopiesuk.co.uk. Alternatively, further details can be found at www.canopiesuk.co.uk.
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New Spurs stadium that costs £400m given final go-ahead

Tottenham Hotspur’s £400m, 61,000-seat stadium redevelopment plans edge closer after receiving formal permission to continue building from Haringey council.

Haringey council gave the scheme the green light after the government informed the council it would not call in the planning application.

A spokesperson for the Spurs said that the club would “work with Haringey council in respect of finalising planning processes, public sector support for the surrounding environs and transport improvements that are essential to the deliverability of the scheme.”

Mace are the main construction partner, working in conjunction with Arcadis and engineer Buro Happold. They hope that the stadium will be completed and ready for play to commence in the 2018/19 season.

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Leading Australian architect, Christopher Lee also designed the Emirates stadium, home of Tottenham’s rivals, Arsenal. Which stadium will be best!?

Not just a stadium

In order to get planning permission for such a large scale project, developers often have to include other things which will prove to be an asset to the surrounding community. The new Spurs stadium is of no exception; plans also include the delivery of around 600 new houses, a community health centre, a 180 bed hotel, a sports centre, and an outdoor open space for events and public use.

The news that the stadium has been green lighted follows the project receiving mayoral approval for the scheme back in February.

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Rinnai official event sponsor of FIFA Club World Cup 2015

Rinnai, designer and manufacturer of the A-rated energy efficient Infinity range of continuous flow gas fired water heaters, has announced its official event sponsorship of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup tournament.

The event, which is FIFA’s largest annual event, will take place in Japan from 10-20 December and is expected to attract millions of TV viewers in 219 countries across the world.

Rinnai’s official event sponsorship provides them with rights locally within Japan and will see its logo reproduced on banners around the perimeter of the pitch at the FIFA Club World Cup 2015 matches as well as on signage around the participating stadia in Osaka and Yokohama. The Rinnai logo will also be imprinted on all official marketing material for the tournament and on the FIFA website.

The football competition is a fitting platform for the company’s sponsorship. Rinnai is a global leader in gas appliance manufacturing, specialising in the development of commercial and domestic water heaters.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2015 sets the winning clubs of the six main continental football confederations competing for the title of Club World Champion 2015 along with a team from the host country.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2015 will feature clubs including River Plate, Barcelona, TP Mazembe, Club América and Auckland City as well as the winners of the 2015 AFC Champions League and of the 2015 J1 League.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.

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