Brentford submit Lionel Road planning application

Brentford have submitted a planning application to Hounslow Council for a new stadium at Lionel Road.

The League One club are seeking permission to build a 20,000-seater stadium on the site, along with up to 910 residential apartments.

The Bees bought the 7.6 acre site, which lies between Kew Bridge railway station and the M4 motorway, last year.

Owner Matthew Benham has agreed to underwrite a funding gap in order for the scheme to go ahead.

The Lionel Road site was first identified as a prospective location for a new ground in 2002 and Brentford, who have played their home games at the 12,763-capacity Griffin Park since 1904, hope to move in for the start of the 2016-17 season.

Outgoing Brentford chairman Greg Dyke said he was "extremely proud" to submit the "bold and exciting" planning application, which sees an increase on the original 15,000 capacity intended for the stadium.

"It is clear that the club cannot prosper in the obsolete facilities at Griffin Park," Dyke told the club website.

"In the past few months we have twice sold-out to capacity crowds of over 12,000 and came within a whisker, with a penalty kick and then a play-off final, of promotion to the Championship.

"In addition, the award-winning community work for which Brentford is known nationally will be able to expand at the new stadium."

He continued: "We have listened to the comments from local residents, Bees supporters and a wide range of organisations and come up with a scheme that will have many benefits.

"The proposals in this planning application will be good for the club, good for community sport and education and good for Brentford, the Borough of Hounslow and west London."

The club have reduce the height of the residential developments from their initial plans following consultations with local residents.