Byers announced that he will not call in Arsenal's planning application to a public inquiry, meaning that construction work will begin this Spring. The new stadium should be open in time for the start of the 2004/5 season.
Byers said: 'My general approach is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so. After careful consideration of all the matters about the applications and having regard to my policy on call in, I have reached the conclusion that there is not sufficient conflict in this case with national planning policies or any other sufficient reason to warrant calling in the applications'.
In addition to the new stadium, the proposals would provide over 2,000 new and refurbished homes including student/key worker accommodation and live/work units, a new sports and community centre, business and industrial space, a replacement and larger waste and recycling centre, community health facilities and leisure/publicly accessible open space.
On completion, the historic Arsenal stadium at Highbury, half a mile from the new site, will be redeveloped with housing. Since standing was banned in UK's top-flight football grounds in the early 1990s, the Highbury capacity has been reduced to 38,000 which is insufficient for major domestic and European matches.
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