They say it’s just updated, but it’s an entirely new concept of the planned new stadium. 61,000 seats is just the tip of changes done to the initial bid from 2007.

Yesterday Tottenham Hotspur had quite some announcement for their fans. Updated Northumberland Project was revealed and despite it being called the same as before, it’s actually a completely new development, differing significantly from the vision Spurs had promoted since 2007.

What remains nearly unchanged is only the layout of planned stadium (though blueprint rises) and location of a mixed-use development south of the venue. Also the listed buildings that have to be preserved are left untouched, obviously, but apart from that it’s a brand new vision.

Shape, size and uses of the stadium have been upgraded, the plan was drawn by Populous (as opposed to previous one by KSS Group). New bowl is larger than that of 2007. It will be covered with metallic cladding like the one planned initially, though in an updated form of perforated webbing mosaic. A viewing deck will also be created atop the stadium, a brand new feature.

Inside it has also grown: from 56,250 seats to 61,000. New layout still includes the planned single-tiered kop stand for home fans. With 17,000 seats it’s going to be England’s biggest. It would be located in the south and underneath that section another new feature would be hidden: a storage for retractable field.

Why? The stadium is to host both natural turf and synthetic grass for American football games. It was also confirmed yesterday that the stadium will host no less than 2 NFL games per season for 10 consecutive years. Quite possibly it may even become home to a new NFL franchise.

South of the stadium the long-awaited mixed use programme is planned, but not with 285 flats. Instead, up to 579 apartments are to be made available, some of them so called affordable housing. Also, a 180-bed hotel is planned, which altogether means buildings will be significantly taller than in the previous planning application.

As changes to the initial scheme are very significant, Tottenham will need to amend their planning applications, part of which the club already submitted documents for. First analysis of the upgraded Northumberland Development Project will be held by the pre-app committee at Haringey borough council in July. Should all proceedings go as planned, the new stadium should see groundbreaking in 2016 and opening possibly as soon as August 2018.This means at least one season away from White Hart Lane for Tottenham, most likely at Wembley.