Costs of new Arsenal stadium rise by 50%

Arsenal have admitted their new stadium is set to run £100 million sterling over budget.

Arsenal have admitted their new stadium is set to run £100 million sterling over budget.

The Gunners had expected their new 60,000-seater arena at Ashburton Grove to cost around £200 million, but director Danny Fiszman admitted complications in gaining planning permssion had added another 50 per cent to that figure.

Fiszman told the Evening Standard: "It is more expensive than we originally anticipated. Part of it has been the obligations which will add £100 million to the bill. [Without them] we would not receive planning consent.

"It concerns affordable housing, transport contributions, rebuilding the waste recycling centre, relocation issues. They are our obligations to the environment".

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But Fiszman - who is also the club's largest shareholder - said boss Arsene Wenger's transfer kitty will not be affected.

"The new stadium will create sufficient extra income to pay the debt and put substantial ammunition in Arsene's pocket," he said.