Arsenal Football Club has been given planning approval by Islington Council to build a new 60,000-seat stadium on land currently occupied by a 25-acre industrial estate and rubbish dump at Ashburton Grove, London. It is hoped that the new stadium, half a mile away from Arsenal's current Highbury pitch, will kick start the regeneration of the Islington area, creating 1,800 new jobs and more than 2,300 new homes. The proposals include provisions for conference, function and banqueting facilities as well as a learning centre in the stadium, and a new sports and community centre plus two external five-a-side pitches. The stadium will also feature cafés, bars, restaurants and the Arsenal museum. It is estimated the project, designed by HOK Sport, who designed Stadium Australia for the Sydney Olympics, will cost between £200m and £400m. Finance for the scheme will come from the sale of Highbury, City investment and up to £70m from the club. The Highbury pitch will be turned into housing, with a garden area for residents and a garden in memory of those whose ashes have been scattered on the pitch during its 88 year-history. The proposals will now be referred to Ken Livingstone, The Mayor of London, who has 14 days in which to call for a public inquiry or ask for the matter to be referred to the Secretary of State, Stephen Buyers, who may decide to look at the wider effects of the project before the scheme can go ahead. If full permission is granted, the plan is for the new ground to be ready by mid 2004
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