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Brentford Football Club’s plans for a new multi-million pound stadium in West London have taken a massive step forward in recent days when, after many months of negotiations, the club obtained an option to buy a 7.6 acre site at Lionel Road.

The vision for the new stadium at Lionel Road includes a 20,000 seat stadium for football and rugby, a health centre, leisure centre, social enterprise business centre, hotel and conference facilities.

The site, a former goods yard, is currently used for short term mixed industrial purposes. In 2002, it was identified as the preferred relocation site for the Football Club as it ensured it would remain in Brentford itself.

Under The Club’s proposals, their existing ground at Griffin Park will be redeveloped for residential housing once their new stadium is built and surplus land in Lionel Road, (not needed for the new stadium), will be used to build a number of community facilities together with additional new housing. A this stage there has been no mention as to what the plan would mean for the Fountains Leisure Centre which is adjacent to the site.

To enable the stadium project to proceed, Brentford Football Club, through its subsidiary company Brentford FC (Lionel Road) Ltd, has also entered into confidential negotiations with a major residential developer, who will work as the club’s development partner in bringing the whole scheme to life.

Brentford FC Chairman, Greg Dyke said, “This is a major milestone and huge step forward for the Club. We need a modern new stadium, we want to keep the Club in Brentford, and we want a brighter financial future which will mean we can compete more effectively in the Football League. This deal will help us achieve all three."

The aim is for the club to move into a new stadium in Lionel Road free of debt. Greg Dyke believes that the ground will increase the non-football income of the club and result in a sound financial future."

He went on to say, “The board, the Club and its supporters are very grateful to a whole range of people who have helped make today’s deal possible, including Chancerygate, BRB (Residuary) Ltd and Antony Spencer of Anthony Green and Spencer. In particular we would like to thank the officers and members at Hounslow Council, our local MP, Ann Keen, the London Development Agency (LDA) and Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, all of whom have played a major part in helping us in our ambition to turn a dream into reality.”

The project has been led by Brian Burgess and Chris Gammon, who are both directors of Brentford FC (Lionel Road) Ltd and of supporters’ trust, Bees United, and Ian Jones who is an independent director on the boards of Brentford FC Ltd and Brentford FC (Lionel Road) Ltd. Greg Dyke said that without their energy and enthusiasm this deal would never have happened.

To ensure that Brentford Football Club will have the resources to drive the project forward, it is proposed that both Burgess and Gammon will resign from their positions on the Bees United board and take up executive positions with the stadium subsidiary company from 1st January.