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South London footie fans, pay attention: Southwark Council has officially approved plans to refurbish Dulwich’s historic Champion Hill football stadium.
The council has given the green light to plans that will see Dulwich Hamlet FC’s old stadium transformed into a new 4,000-seat ground with a brand-new pitch and modern facilities. The footie club has been based in the borough for 123 years, and the new stadium is expected to secure the future of the team for years to come.
The all-weather pitch will replace the dilapidated astroturf that’s currently on the site. The main pitch will be open for public rental for use by the community when not in use for matchdays. The wider development will also get a new kickabout space for public use.
The council confirmed that the nearby Greendale Playing Fields will not be directly affected by the development and will remain protected as open green space. The stadium’s makeover will coincide with the construction of 219 new homes in the surrounding area.
Councillor Richard Leeming, Deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for Leisure & Sports said: ‘This is the most vital win of the season for Dulwich Hamlet FC, a cherished club in Southwark’s history and culture, who can now plan for a bright future supported by thousands of fans in a modern new stadium.
‘It’s also really important to the council and the community that this arrangement includes access to the new facilities outside of matchdays and new kickabout spaces, the preservation of current green space, and of course more vital new housing for the borough.’
Ben Clasper, Chairman of Dulwich Hamlet FC said: ‘The cabinet decision to approve the disposal of land is the final piece of a puzzle we have been trying to solve for many years to regenerate the area, deliver new housing and secure the long-term future of our community football club.’
He added: ‘With this approval, the building of the new stadium will return the club to the site we were first able to call our own home more than a hundred years ago and the building of new homes will contribute to meeting the critical demand for housing in Southwark.
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