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Tottenham are growing increasingly frustrated by the length of time it is taking public officials to make a key decision on their plans to build a new stadium.
Spurs hope to move into a £400million, 56,000-seat ground in time for the start of the 2017-18 season but, in order to make progress, they are awaiting news from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The club are involved in a wrangle with a local metalwork business, Archway Sheet Metal Works. They need to be granted a Compulsory Purchase Order by the Secretary of State for DCLG, Eric Pickles, to have a legal right to buy the site from which the metalwork business currently operates.
If Mr Pickles ruled in Tottenham’s favour, it would allow relocation terms for the family-run business to be determined. Once those were reached, Spurs would have control of all the land they need to press ahead with construction.
Tottenham believe there will be a verdict this month but are perplexed that it has taken such a long time for DCLG to draw its conclusions. The saga began in April 2013, when the metalwork business appealed against the findings of a public inquiry. This inquiry had ruled that Haringey Council should issue a CPO on behalf of Spurs, which would have meant the business being forced to move.
Spurs understand the need for thorough examination but are surprised it has taken so much time. Initially, they hoped for a decision in March, only to learn it would not come before Easter, which this year fell on April 20.
Standard Sport contacted DCLG, who would say only that the matter was under consideration, and would give no timescale about a decision. The plan to move to a new stadium has been in the pipeline for six years.
Tottenham are confident they can secure the necessary funds to finance the stadium, though they will also need a naming-rights deal that would see the ground re-badged. Club owners ENIC have poured in an extra £40million by way of an unsecured loan.
If the main construction work takes place during the 2016-17 season, Spurs would prefer to continue playing at White Hart Lane but have not ruled out staging home games elsewhere. Standard Sport revealed in April they were considering Wembley, the Olympic Stadium and League One club Milton Keynes Dons, as possible venues.
