AFC Wimbledon suffer setback in bid for new stadium

AFC Wimbledon's plans for a new stadium in Plough Lane have suffered a setback after the Greater London Authority decided to 'call-in' their planning application.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced the decision on Tuesday, with a Dons statement suggesting it is " because the development is seen as being of strategic importance to the area."

It added: "The GLA will now take control of the planning decision, which will probably involve a new consultation and a decision to be made later this year."

AFC Wimbledon and Galliard Homes, who were building over 600 new homes along with retail and commercial space and a leisure club as part of the development, were given the green light by Merton Council in December 2015.

But the GLA has now intervened, with the Sky Bet League Two club's chi ef executive Erik Samuelson saying: "We are disappointed that the application has not been approved today.

"We will immediately set about understanding the detailed reasons for the Mayor's decision.

"While this is a setback, the story is not over. We have made a very strong case for the application and we will do so again. We remain confident that we will be successful, albeit after some delay to our aspirations."