Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has given Chelsea FC the green light to build a new £500m (US$612.9m, €579.1m) stadium on the site of Stamford Bridge. Khan said he was satisfied with the 60,000-capacity stadium’s “high-quality and spectacular design”, which was approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in January. As part of Chelsea’s submission, the Premier League club has committed to investing £12m in community activities, such as employment

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, is one step closer to a US$49m (€43.4m, £37.2m) facility expansion after the city’s Design Review Board approved the project unanimously. Now moving on to its construction document phase, the project will enter a new round of city review and approvals ahead of a proposed groundbreaking later this year. Plans originally envisioned a US$200m (€177m, £151.6m) expansion, but were abandoned following the death

The Goddard Group and Moschanko Investment Group have been given the go-ahead by Russian President Vladimir Putin to develop and build a US$4bn (€3.6bn, £2.8bn) theme park near Moscow. Called “The Magical World of Russia”, the new project has been touted as a major destination and resort theme park that will “reflect Russian and other international cultures”. The development gained the endorsement of President Putin at a recent meeting involving

The world’s first fully air conditioned stadium has been given the go ahead by the ruler of Dubai, with architecture studio Perkins + Will working on the design of the project. Dubai Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved the initial design of the 60,000 capacity Mohammed bin Rashid Stadium after reviewing the project last week. The ground will cost AED3bn (US$817m €717m, £565m) to construct and

The move to bring a second Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to Los Angeles has made significant progress after the city council green lit plans for a US$250m (£173.1m, €219.6m) stadium complex for Los Angeles FC. LA City Council “unanimously approved” a final Environmental Impact Report for the development, which will include a 22,000-capacity stadium, restaurants, office space, a conference centre and a football museum. The local office of architectural

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has confirmed that its proposed new stadium has received approval from the mayor of London Boris Johnson. The decision is a significant step forward in the development of the planned 61,000-capacity stadium – designed by global sports architects Populous – which will replace the English Premier League side’s existing White Hart Lane ground in north London. "This marks yet another major milestone for this vital and

Colorado-based architectural firm Fentress have revealed final plans for the US$150m (€138m, £99m) renovation and expansion of Cleveland’s Museum of Natural History after gaining approval from the museum’s board of trustees. The plan, which aims to better integrate nature and science into exhibitions, is soon to enter the US$20m (€18m, £13.2m) first phase and will increase the museum's space to 200,000sq ft (18,500sq m), up from 68,000sq ft (6,300sq ft).

Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) has approved plans for several new major developments in Abu Dhabi as part of a strategy to make the area more tourist friendly. They include a new African safari experience, waterfront developments and a shopping mall. World Desert Oasis in Al Ain is one of 76 new projects, recently approved by the UPC aiming to enhance Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a tourist destination. Designed

London mayor Boris Johnson has finally approved planning permission for Thomas Heatherwick’s controversial Garden Bridge. After planning was approved by both Lambeth Council and Westminster Council earlier this year, Johnson’s official approval of the project means that the construction of the £175m (US$294m, €216m) bridge can begin next year. In a statement, Johnson said: “The Garden Bridge will provide a fantastic new landmark for London whilst supporting regeneration and economic

Thomas Heatherwick and Joanna Lumley’s controversial Garden Bridge over London’s River Thames has won planning permission from Westminster Council. Planning permission for the £175m (US$294m, €216m) bridge was granted yesterday (2 December) at Westminster City Hall in a packed meeting attended by more than 120 people. The Garden Bridge plan will connect the South Bank and Temple areas of London. Westminster Council is the second body to grant planning permission

Plans to transform part of East Manchester with new sports and community facilities have been granted council approval, with work due to begin later this year. The joint venture between Manchester City Council, Manchester City Football Club and urban regeneration company New East Manchester will see a 16-acre site in Beswick redeveloped with a new leisure centre, pool and school. A sports research centre, offering academic research and diagnostic facilities,

Dudley Council has approved plans for three attractions at Castle Hill submitted for planning permission in January. The £10.1m plans for the Dudley Zoological Gardens, the Black Country Living Museum and the Dudley Canal Trust include a shared arrival point for visitors, a new entrance for each attraction and 600 new parking spaces and an upgraded car park. The plans, which had been shared with the public in February, received

Australia’s Queensland state government has approved an AU$600m (US$617m, 472m euro, £408m) resort for Great Keppel Island, which will be one of the biggest tourism developments in the country – pending approval from the federal government. The proposed first stage of development would include: a 250-room hotel at Fisherman’s Beach with restaurant and conference facilities; a 250-berth marina and yacht club at Putney Beach; 150 precinct apartments and staff accommodation;

Image: A linear park will run through the market site Wandsworth Council has approved plans for two major development projects in London's Nine Elms regeneration area - One Nine Elms and New Covent Garden Market. Both planning applications were given the go ahead by members of the council's planning committee on 18 June and will complement a range of other projects proposed for the area. While New Covent Garden Market

Plans for the development of the "first new West End theatre in more than a decade" have been approved by Westminster City Council as part of London's Crossrail scheme. The new venue will occupy the capital's former Astoria site as part of the transformation of the Tottenham Court Road area, with retail, residential and office space also proposed. Crossrail submitted its plans in conjunction with Derwent London, which cover two

Royal Mail's South London Mail Centre, which is to close following an operational review, is to be transformed as part of a new mixed-use scheme approved by the local authority. Wandsworth Council has approved the Nine Elms Parkside scheme, which has been drawn up by Allies and Morrison Architects and will include a range of sport and leisure facilities. Cafés, restaurants, bars and a 3.3-acre (1.3-hectare) public park are also

A private leisure and spa facility is to be developed as part of a residential-led scheme to be developed in Holland Park, London, after the proposals were given the green light. GC Campden Hill - a joint venture comprising property group Grosvenor and Native Land - received the green light to proceed with the plans from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) councillors. The 2-acre (0.8-hectare), John McAslan and

Aberdeen Football Club's (AFC) plans for a new 21,000-seat stadium on land near Loirston Loch have been given the green light by the Scottish Government. The 39.5-acre (16-hectare) development - designed by the Miller Partnership - was approved by Aberdeen City Council last month and is due for completion ahead of the 2013-14 season. AFC said the Scottish Government's decision means it can now work to securing funding to deliver

Redditch Borough Council (RBC) is to proceed with plans to reuse energy from the town's crematorium to heat the revamped Abbey Stadium Leisure Centre. Members of the full council approved the proposal at its meeting on 7 February, which will enable work to start on diverting waste heat into the complex. It is the first project of its kind in the UK and will see 100 per cent of the

A temporary water polo arena, which will be used during the London 2012 Games, has been given the go ahead by the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) planning committee. The proposed venue - designed by David Morley Architects - includes a sloping inflatable roof and will be able to accommodate 5,000 spectators during Games time. Facilities will include a 37m x 23m competition pool and a slightly smaller warm-up pool and

Hackney Council have approved plans for a major multi-million pound mixed-use scheme adjacent to the Hackney Empire that aims to safeguard the historic venue. London-based developer Thornsett Group is leading the Wilton Way project, which will include the demolition of existing office facilities and the construction of a new building. Plans include 425sq m (4,575sq ft) of flexible space to be used for community activities associated with the Hackney Empire

A new 192-bedroom hotel is to be included as part of a major mixed-use development in London's Docklands after plans for the complex were given the green light by mayor Boris Johnson. Tower Hamlets council had originally refused planning permission for the 63-storey Columbus Tower proposals, but the plans were called in after the mayor exercised special powers to decide the fate of the scheme. In addition to the hotel,

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has approved plans for construction schemes at 12 further education institutions across the UK as part of a drive to improve college facilities. Developments at Hartlepool College of Further Education (HCFE); Tresham College of Further and Higher Education in Corby and Bournville College in Birmingham have all received the green light from the LSC. A new £51.6m complex designed by architects Bond Bryan will

Plans for a major new mixed-use development on a 230-acre (93.1-hectare) former pipeworks site in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, have been given the green light by North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC). Worcester-based developer Maximus is behind the multi-million pound project, which will see the transformation of the former Biwater Works site - now renamed Silkston - over the next 10 years. The scheme includes a new 60-bedroom hotel, a children's

A new three-year strategy outlining a number of proposals for the transformation of Carlisle has been given the green light by the city council. The Carlisle Renaissance Action Plan 2009-12 was formally approved by Carlisle City Council (CCC) on 3 March, and has now received the support of all the partners involved with the scheme. Cumbria County Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency and Cumbria Vision have already backed the

Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has given the green light in principle to plans to enter a lease agreement with a private developer that will enable the redevelopment of Hazlehead Golf Course to take a step forward. In October, the council announced that The MacKenzie Club had been selected as its preferred developer for the multi-million pound scheme, which aims to transform the 245-acre (99-hectare) into a major international golf destination.

Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has approved in principle proposals to take over responsibility for the redevelopment of the resort's open air theatre in order to ensure the scheme goes ahead despite the downturn. The revamp of the theatre is currently included in a development agreement with Benchmark Leisure, which was appointed by the council in December 2002 to transform 55 acres (22.3 hectares) of land in the town's North Bay