Arsenal have today announced that their new 60,000 seater stadium is currently £100m over budget. The stadium at Ashburton Grove was originally expected to cost £200m, but the cost has risen by 50% because of obligations the Gunners undertook in gaining planning permission.
Director Danny Fiszman said: "It is more expensive than we originally anticipated. Part of it has been the obligations, which will add £100m to the bill. Without them we would not receive planning permission."
"It concerns affordable housing, transport contributions, re-building the waste recycling centre, relocation issues. They are our obligations to the environment," he added.
However, the club are insisting that the rise in costs of the stadium will in no way affect Arsene Wenger's purse-strings. "I want to stress that Arsene's budget will not be affected in any way by this project," Fiszman claimed.
Filed by Rob Wright
