Madrid city council have given the long-awaited green light to the restructuring of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Works are expected to begin on redeveloping the famous ground in the summer, and will continue during the off-season through 2018 and 2019. The total cost to renovate the stadium is expected to be around €400 million.
After the initial proposal was turned down, modifications were made and the revised plans have now been approved. The new project will see the 45-metre high stadium grow by another 10 metres with the addition of a roof, while other additions include a food court, an enlargement of the Real Madrid museum and a luxury hotel.
The areas around the stadium will also be redeveloped. The Esquina del Bernabeu shopping centre will be torn down and replaced with 6,000 square metres of public gardens, and the car park on the Paseo de la Castellana will be converted into a pedestrianised zone. Rafael Salgado street will also be renovated, and the nearby Sagrados Corazones roundabout may also be affected, although its underground car park will stay in place.
Real Madrid must still draft a Sustainable Mobility Plan to promote public transport access to the stadium, whether this is by bus or by encouraging access by bicycle, but the major hurdle has now been overcome. Final approval for the outstanding items in the plan will be obtained in April once the proposal has been set before the 57-member Plenary.
