Ground redevelopmemt article from Times

yiddo

From The Times today.

Tottenham flirt with ground redevelopment
Gary Jacob

A former lap-dancing club is standing between Tottenham Hotspur and a potential redevelopment of White Hart Lane. Rudolphs Night Club is among the properties adjoining the stadium complex that the club do not own but are trying to buy. Their purchase would allow Tottenham to develop the site and increase the capacity of their stadium, of 36,236, by as much as 15,000.

The club have spent the past 20 years talking about various ground schemes, but have slipped farther behind Arsenal, their North London rivals, who have moved into a 60,000 seat stadium.

Tottenham are expected to make a decision on any development within a year. Their options include completely rebuilding the stadium and reorientating the pitch by 90 degrees, but they are unlikely to be able to move into Wembley Stadium while the ground is redeveloped. Both options would require ownership of Rudolphs Night Club, which can hold about 500 people. The club have tabled an offer for the remaining 12 years on the lease, but the landlord may seek as much as £1 million. Punch Taverns, the pub company, is likely to seek a similar amount for the freehold.

Alternative locations for the club have been considered, but their preference is to stay at their present site. Tottenham want Haringey Council to contribute towards the development and for Transport for London to improve train and bus access to the stadium. Supporters have started a petition to the Prime Minister in favour of extending the London Underground closer to the ground.

“Spurs is an important asset for Haringey and the council is keen to work with them,” a spokesperson for Haringey Council said. “There may be opportunities for public funding if a regeneration case can be made. That would be a matter for the London Development Agency, which administers regeneration funding in the capital.”