Breakthrough for Brentford as club acquires Lionel Road site

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Brentford have bought the site of a proposed new stadium at Lionel Road – which could be their home within four years.

In a hugely significant development for the club, it has purchased the 7.6-acre piece of land from Barratt Homes, who acquired it in January 2008.

It means Brentford are set to build a 15,000-capacity stadium with the option of extending the ground to 20,000 seats at a later stage.

Some residential property will also be built on the site, while Griffin Park – Brentford’s home since 1904 – will be turned into a housing development.

The Lionel Road site, located between Kew Bridge station and the elevated M4 motorway close to Chiswick roundabout, was bought for an undisclosed price by long-term Bees supporter Matthew Benham, who has also completed a deal to become the club’s new owner.

Bees chairman Greg Dyke said: “This is brilliant news for the club and it’s now full steam ahead for a new stadium.

“We will be submitting plans for the new development to Hounslow Council within the next year and our ambition is to move into the new stadium in time for the start of the 2016/17 season.

“This would not have been possible without Matthew Benham and all Bees fans should be grateful for the financial support he has given the club in recent years.

“Hopefully by the time we move into the new ground we will already be a Championship club.

“The journey to Lionel Road has been a long and, at times, frustrating one, but hopefully it is now coming to fruition.

“I said in the annual report that I believed it would happen in my lifetime and it now looks very likely!”

Benham said: “I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement with Barratt Homes and take control of the land at Lionel Road.

“The club can now get on with preparing plans for an exciting new community stadium that will provide a great boost in terms of much needed new homes and jobs in Brentford.”

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