Tottenham today cleared what could be the final hurdle in their bid to redevelop White Hart Lane after the London Mayor gave their plans the green light.
Boris Johnson had the power to overturn the decision by Haringey Council to grant Spurs planning permission to build a 56,000-seat venue on the site of their current ground. But the mayor decided to back the council, meaning the £450million project can go ahead unless the Government intervenes.
Tottenham have also expressed an interest in moving to the Olympic Stadium site after the 2012 Games. A decision on the stadium is expected before Christmas, with West Ham, along with Newham Council and Livenation, and Spurs, backed by AEG, on the shortlist. Contracts should be signed by March.
West Ham, who want to retain a running track, are the frontrunners but there is now a body of support behind Spurs' legacy plan to knock down the Olympic Stadium and either build a smaller athletics arena or redevelop Crystal Palace to a standard that would fulfil the criteria for hosting the World Championships in 2017.
The Hammers are lining up a major supermarket chain to buy their East End home should they win the right to move to Stratford.
The successful bidder will be handed a £35m grant from the Olympic budget to subsidise stadium conversion costs and with the price of a new White Hart Lane rising by £50m in the last 12 months, Spurs may still decide it is more cost effective to relocate than to rebuild in north London.
