West Ham have a huge opportunity to take more control of the London Stadium as from April, the arena will no longer be owned or operated by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which will be under new leadership, according to a report from Claret & Hugh. 

The LLDC Planning Policy & Decisions Team (PPDT) will cease its function as local planning authority for the LLDC area from midnight on the 30th of November by returning planning powers to the local London Boroughs.  This is now an opportunity for West Ham to start approaching the Greater London Authority (GLA) for a long lease of the London Stadium.

West Ham are anchor tenants at the former Olympic Stadium having signed up to a 99-year lease , which was described by some as the ‘deal of the century’ at the time. However, it doesn’t feel like that for some Hammers fans who have still not taken to their new home.

The club have been able to make some minor improvements to the stadium to appease fans. For example, adding more West Ham branding, and squaring off the stands. However, the gaps between the upper and lower tiers and from the stands to the pitch is a major flaw of the stadium that a lot of fans still can’t get over.

The stadium is in need of a huge transformation if if it is to become a proper football stadium, however that hasn’t been doable due to the terms of the current lease. However, according to Claret & Hugh, the news of the LLDC’s new leadership pens up the very real possibility of a new long lease for West Ham at London Stadium. This could make the changes fans want the club to make to the stadium a lot more possible.

This would also allow West Ham full control and the ability to run and manage the stadium similarly to Manchester City and the Etihad, opening up revenue streams including naming rights, catering and sponsorship.