WIMBLEDON were given the green light yesterday to build a new stadium in their home London borough.

Representatives from the League One club, Merton Council and developer GRA Acquisitions signed paperwork which means work can start at the site of the old Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium on Plough Lane.

Development of the £25 million stadium is due to start next summer and the club hope to move into the 11,000-seat ground for the start of the 2019-20 season.

The old Wimbledon club, who moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and became MK Dons, played close to the site of the planned new Plough Lane stadium from 1912 to 1991. AFC Wimbledon formed as a result of the controversial move and currently play their home matches at Kingsmeadow, which was previously home to Kingstonian.

Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson hailed a “momentous day” after the permission was granted.

“Everyone in football knows the story of how AFC Wimbledon came into being. A group of fans started with nothing — no ground, no team, no manager, no players and no kit,” Samuelson said.

“Now, 15 years later, we’ve taken a giant step towards going home to Merton, in a new stadium and as a Football League club.

“This is a momentous day for us.”