The football club expressed their delight yesterday after being granted planning permission to build a new stadium at Plough Lane.

Yesterday evening the Merton Council approved AFC Wimbledon’s planned 20,000-capacity stadium. Speaking after the planning committee meeting at Merton Civic Centre, AFC Wimbledon Chief Executive Erik Samuelson, said: “We are all absolutely delighted. This has been a momentous day for our club and the most important event since we reformed it 13 years ago.

“Following the sale of our former Plough Lane site and the decision by the FA to allow Wimbledon FC’s Football League place to be moved to Milton Keynes, our fans did something unprecedented in the football world – we decided to re-form the club, enter the football hierarchy at the lowest level and repeat what the old Wimbledon FC did with massive success, namely make our way up through the many leagues into the Football League.

“We have never lost sight of that and so we have focused the majority of our community works on Merton because this is our home and we are delighted that we have been granted planning approval to return to Wimbledon.” Samuelson said before thanking the councilors.

Galliard Homes Director Mike Watson said “We are delighted to have received planning permission to redevelop this important brownfield site. Alongside AFC Wimbledon’s new stadium, we will be providing 602 new high quality homes, a new squash and fitness facility and a retail unit. These new homes will make a significant contribution towards Merton’s own minimum 10 year target for new homes and the regeneration of this part of Merton.”