AFC Wimbledon have secured their return to the borough after completing a key stage for the development of their new stadium at Plough Lane.

On Monday 24 December Merton Catalyst LLP (the joint venture of Galliard Homes and Catalyst Developments [Wimbledon] Ltd) officially transferred ownership of the land on which the stadium will be built to a subsidiary of the Dons Trust, The Wider Interests of Football Limited, meaning AFC Wimbledon began 2019 as owners of the freehold to that land.

AFC Wimbledon Chief Executive Erik Samuelson said: “The transfer of the freehold to our land on the Plough Lane site is a massive step forward.  Finally, we no longer need to call Plough Lane our spiritual home – it’s our actual home.”

Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “I am delighted that AFC Wimbledon are now the owners of Plough Lane and returning back to their hometown. As ever, I am hugely thankful to the fans and our council staff who are working tirelessly towards the club’s return to the borough and have done so much to make Merton a great place for families. The development will be fantastic for our community, bringing not just an amazing stadium, but much needed homes and better transport links, new jobs and an economic boost to the local area. The whole of Merton will be cheering them on!”

Once completed, the new development will not only provide a state of the art 11,000- 20,000-seater football stadium for AFC Wimbledon, but will bring over 600 much needed homes, retail space, a squash and fitness club as well as an economic boost to Merton.

Notes to editors

1. Representatives from AFC Wimbledon, Merton Council and GRA Acquisitions Limited sign the Section 106 agreement on 13 December 2017.
2. Merton Council’s planning committee unanimously approved AFC Wimbledon’s and Galliard’s application to build a new stadium on 10 December 2015.
3. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan formally handed back to Merton Council the powers to progress AFC Wimbledon’s application for the football stadium in August 2016.
4. Dons Trust, The Wider Interests of Football Limited is the company which owns AFC Wimbledon. It is in turn owned by fans of the Club.
5. Merton Catalyst LLP is a joint venture between Gallard Homes and Catalyst Developments [Wimbledon] Ltd.
6. Find out more information about the stadium development here  www.ploughlanestadium.co.uk
7. For more information about the residential, retail and leisure development visit www.wimbledongrounds.com