Tottenham Hotspur have been looking to build a new stadium adjacent to current home, White Hart Lane, for nearly a decade now. Plans have been drawn up, ground has been broken on all the ancillary things like a technical college and grocery store—but there are no shovels in the ground to build the new White Hart Lane (or whatever company buys the naming rights).
More from Premier League
- USMNT news: Balogun to stay, Musah to Milan, Ream wants promotion
- USMNT news: Dest to Fulham, Aaronson joins Union, Gold Cup roundup
- USMNT news: McKennie to Villa, Leeds departures, Sargent goal
- USMNT news: Pulisic to Milan, Musah to Fulham, Pepi to PSV
- USMNT rumors: Balogun to Chelsea, Robinson new contract, Pulisic to Milan
That’s because one of the over 70 businesses that needed to be relocated has refused to budge from its home around White Hart Lane. Archway Steel, a local business is refusing to budge until it gets what it believes is the proper price and location to move.
On Wednesday, Tottenham announced that Archway Steel is challenging the compulsory purchase order to the high court. Earlier this year the Secretary of State confirmed a compulsory purchase order to move the company out of the area and thus allow Spurs to start construction on the actual stadium.
The challenge has been put forth to the court, but no date has been set for the hearing or ruling on if the high court will even hear the challenge.
Spurs are hoping to break ground as soon as possible and have the stadium ready for the 2017-18 season, but that can only happen if ground is broken in a few months.
The club also told supporters that in order to complete construction in the shortest amount of time it would move away from its home in North London for a season:
"The Club has revised its construction programme in order to take the shortest possible time to construct. This now therefore involves the Club moving away from the Lane during construction for a period of one season, to start at the beginning of a season in order to comply with Premier League rules."
All of this is happening because one business (whose owners were once Spurs season ticket holders), and the frustration of the club can be heard throughout the statements it is making on the slower than slow process that has taken place.