New images of Herzog & de Meuron's Chelsea stadium

Chelsea has submitted its plans by Herzog & de Meuron to expand its Stamford Bridge ground.

The struggling Premier League champions play in a stadium which has a capacity of just 41,600 but the club is hoping to increase that to 60,000 with the help of the designer of Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium.

The Swiss architect, which is working with Stamford Bridge masterplanner Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, said it was inspired by the gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey, which once owned the site, and by the brickwork of Fulham’s Victorian terraced streets.

The updated arena has been designed to offer an “outstanding” view from every seat.

Engineers WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff and Schlich Bergmann Partner are providing structural engineering services, while WSP PB is also providing civil engineering, transportation and environmental services on the project. Eckersley O’Callaghan are providing facade engineering services.

Plans for direct access to Fulham Broadway tube station to ensure supporters can travel to and from games more efficiently have also been detailed in the proposal.

The scheme would create a single, unified stadium where there are currently several disconnected stands. It would also slightly expand the constrained site by decking over the adjacent railway line.

Planners at Hammersmith & Fulham council are due to make a decision on the proposals next year.