Arsenal scheme wins key backing

Arsenal have won support for their plans to move to a new stadium from a key group who were originally opposed to the scheme.

The influential Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment were critical of Arsenal?s plans to move to build a 60,000-capacity ground at Ashburton Grove.

CABE, a group of planning experts set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair to monitor the quality of major new buildings, branded the proposals disappointing and anonymous.

But now CABE say they are happy with Arsenal?s redesigned proposals for the area around the planned new stadium.

In effect, Arsenal now propose to make the area around the new ground less exclusive.

They want to include an increased amount of housing, with homes for key workers and students. Instead of a proposed business unit there is now a community health centre planned. A private health club has been scrapped and the planned sports and community centre has been expanded.

In a letter to Arsenal, CABE said: ?We welcome the decisions made. The present scheme is far more convincing in the way it relates to its site and surroundings. We consider this to be an intelligent plan that will transform this difficult brownfield site.?

An action group of local residents and businesses oppose the plan but the backing of CABE will improve the chances of the Ashburton Grove scheme, which is close to Highbury, winning planning approval from local authority Islington Council.