Chelsea consider building new stadium at Battersea Power Station

Chelsea are investigating leaving Stamford Bridge for a new 60,000-capacity home at Battersea Power Station.

A month after Roman ­Abramovich was defeated in his plan to buy back the ­Stamford Bridge freehold from the Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club sent out a statement of long-term intent.

With expanding and rebuilding the Bridge not viable and proposed sites at Imperial Wharf and Earls Court now seen as unlikely to be pursued, Chelsea announced they have appointed ­development partners and hired architects to draw up plans for the construction of a 55,000-60,000-seater stadium on the other side of the Thames.

A Chelsea spokesman said: “In the past, we’ve talked to various people with interests in Battersea Power Station, but we haven’t had any substantive discussions with anyone regarding that site for several months.

“However, in light of current developments, we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the BPS site to be developed for a football stadium.

“We have made no decision to leave Stamford Bridge, and we continue to discuss with the local council any economically viable options to expand the the Bridge, but we will continue to investigate various options close to Stamford Bridge.”

The iconic Battersea site has been unused since the Power Station, built in the 1930s, was shut down in 1983, despite a series of planned developments, with Chelsea rubbishing previous links going back to Abramovich’s purchase of the club in 2003.

As a Grade Two Listed structure, the walls and towers cannot be demolished, meaning the proposed stadium would have to erected adjacent to, or partially inside, the famous building.

Chelsea would need to buy back the Stamford Bridge freehold - thought to be worth up to £1billion on the open market - to free up funds for a stadium move to a site just three miles from the club’s only home since it was established in 1905.

It has been suggested that Abramovich would look to incorporate a shopping mall into any development, with Chelsea concerned the conversion costs could yet make the scheme unworkable.

The partnership with Mike Hussey, chief executive of Almacantar and architects Kohn Pedersen Fox does not mean any green light have been given for a site whose owners.

Real Estate Opportunities, largely owned in turn by Treasury Holdings of Ireland, have been trying for a year to find an equity investor to fund a proposed £5.5billion redevelopment.

Lloyds Banking Group and the Irish National Asset Management Agency are said to be owed around £300million, a debt which can be called in at any time although Abramovich’s billions would solve other problems.

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CURRENT AND FORMER CHELSEA STARS WHO MIGHT FEEL AT HOME IN BATTERSEA

Stray Wilkins

Spaniel Sturridge

Frank Lampost

John Terrier

Dan Pet-Rescue

Scott Barker

Clive Walkies

Petra Cech

Clawed Makelele

Peter Bone-etti

Roberto Di-Mutt-eo