Fulham have been given the go-ahead to return to Craven Cottage next August, ending their two-year groundshare with Queens Park Rangers.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the historic ground on Tuesday night. The upgrade will bring the ground up to a 22,000 capacity all-seater, with the installation of new floodlights, at a cost of £5m.
Fulham chairman, Mohamed Fayed, who is still considering moving the club to another site in west London in three years time, said: “I am delighted to fulfil the dearest wish of our fans to take us home – albeit temporarily. Craven Cottage has a warm place in my heart. Its beautiful riverside setting gives it a special atmosphere and it is closely bound up with the history of this great club.”
Tom Greatrex, chair of the Back to the Cottage campaign and spokesman for the Fulham Supporters’ Trust said: “Fulham FC are going home. Our temporary exile has seen crowds suffer and been to the detriment of the club. We hope the club can now learn lessons from the unhappy aspects of the last 18 months and start working seriously with the council, football authorities and fans to find a long-term solution for the club in Fulham.”
