Military veterans living on £50m site next to Stamford Bridge ‘take legal action to prevent Chelsea’s £2bn redevelopment of the stadium from going ahead’, in fresh blow to Todd Boehly
- Chelsea are looking to invest £2bn to redevelop Stamford Bridge
- Military veterans living next to Stamford Bridge want to stop the redevelopment
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Military veterans have reportedly taken legal action to scupper Chelsea’s £2billion revamp of Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ redevelopment plans were given the green light in July after they offered £50m for the site where around 100 military veterans and their war widows live next to Stamford Bridge.
Mail Sport revealed the veterans were furious at the prospect of being forced out of their homes, and they have now stepped up their efforts to prevent the sale from happening.
Veterans have applied for an injunction in a bid to stop the Stoll Charity trustees, who run the block of flats, from selling the site to Chelsea, according to The Sun.
Their document states they are against the sale as it ‘will diminish the local community and harm residents, many of whom are vulnerable and all of whom have served their country.’
Chelsea’s planned £2billion redevelopment of Stamford Bridge has been put on hold
Military veterans living next to Stamford Bridge have taken legal action in a bid to stop the redevelopment, in a fresh blow to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly (pictured)
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One resident told The Sun he backed the injunction and had no plans to leave his home to show support for his fellow veterans.
‘People here won’t leave. They’ll have to be taken to court and get eviction notices,’ Matthew Bignell, 36, said.
‘I’m in a position where I can physically and financially afford to leave but I probably won’t to show support for the other tenants.’
The redevelopment plans are now set to be put on hold following the injunction application from the veterans.
The veterans’ legal action is a fresh blow to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, who had planned for a major redevelopment of the club’s stadium to take the capacity from 42,000 to 55,000.
The latest setback follows on from Chelsea’s proposed stadium move to Battersea Power Station collapsing in 2012 after backlash from fans.
Boehly has endured a miserable first 16 months at Chelsea despite the club spending £1billion on transfers during this period.
The American tycoon sacked Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter in his first year at the club as the team finished down in 12th place.
The summer arrival of Mauricio Pochettino has done little to improve the side’s fortunes, with Chelsea losing three of their opening six matches this term.
They are currently 14th in the table, with the pressure mounting on Pochettino already, and now appear to be running into some difficulties off the pitch as well.
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