Better pedestrian access, more cycle facilities and changes to the proposed east stand of AFC Wimbledon’s new football stadium have been announced today after months of discussions.

The multi-million pound bid for the club’s homecoming to Plough Lane was expected to be discussed by Merton Council’s planning committee this month but it has been pushed back to later this year to allow time for another public consultation to take place after changes to its plans were announced today.

The planned changes are in response to objections raised in the early stages by bodies including the Environment Agency (EA) and Wandsworth Council, both of whom the club has met to discuss the plans in detail.

Wandsworth Times:

An artists' impression of the new stadium. Photo: Sheppard Robson Architects

The club said the changes that have been made to the scheme itself primarily relate to the basement, ground and podium level of the residential blocks, the north/south street and the east stand of the stadium.

A statement from the club said: "With these additional submissions we believe that the initial concerns regarding flooding, highways (including parking), sustainability/energy and design including accessibility have now been addressed."

The club and the council were overwhelmed by the response to the first application which received about 7,000 letters from neighbours, fans and members of the public.

A total of 40 per cent of those were from Wandsworth and Merton residents, 2,100 of which were in support and 570 were objecting to the proposals for an 11,000 seater football stadium (going up to 20,000 seats) 602 flats, shops, parking and a squash and fitness club, which could be built in phases.

Chief executive Erik Samuelson said: "This is a really substantial application which we have taken very seriously. There was a significant number of comments we have responded to in an appropriate manner.

"Better to do it right than in a hurry and have it given back."

He said he is happy it is a very comprehensive response to the comments made and the club would not have submitted it unless they were confident in it.

Mr Samuelson said: "It is a significant step forward. It is part of the process. The council is doing things properly and we support that. We look forward to the planning committee and we are confident it will be accepted.

"I’m going to focus on the start of the season."

The changes are outlined by the club as follows: 1. Basement revisions - These primarily relate to a reconfiguration required to provide additional cycle storage for the residential accommodation and separate car parking for users of the proposed squash club.

2. Ground floor elevations - Further detail has been provided on various frontages including detailed accessibility arrangements throughout the development.

3. North/South Street - Changes have been made to the pedestrian street which connects Plough Lane to Riverside Road, to give it greater identity and atmosphere on non-match days, to include cycle parking for visitors and supporters to the stadium and to provide greater pedestrian access.

4. Stadium east stand - Careful consideration has been given to the design of the east wall of the stadium, i.e. the one that adjoins the north/south street, to give it greater visual interest and better connection with activities at street level. A number of proposals have been made which are designed to promote greater use of the street, especially on non-match days and which will provide a facility for both the surrounding community and visitors to the stadium.

The site is currently home to the world famous greyhound stadium, which would have to close down to make way for AFC Wimbledon’s proposed stadium.

Paschal Taggart, the businessman behind unsubmitted plans for a re-vamped greyhound stadium, said: "Without seeing the revised technical submissions I cannot expertly comment on their content.

"However, unless the Environment Agency has significantly changed its flood plain categorisation for the site, which may have happened, then I still give their plans an almost zero chance of getting approval.

"Not to mention the intolerable traffic problems that such a planning would cause Merton and Wandsworth residents and businesses."