Wembley and the LDA

Over £100 million has been invested by the London Development Agency (LDA) in the Wembley area, including money to give the nation's football, rugby leagues and athletic teams a world class stadium that everyone can be proud of.

 As well as funding for the stadium project itself, this work includes:

• building a town square a few hundred metres from the new stadium.
• major overhaul of Wembley Stadium Station, including a state-of-the-art footbridge which leads from the new square to the town centre.
• upgrading Wembley Central station
• business support and training to help people take advantage of new job opportunities in sectors such as retail, entertainment and construction.

The LDA has played a major role on behalf of the Mayor of London in brokering the deals that are making the new stadium and the developments around it a success. The Agency has used its funding and influence to help secure investment from a range of public and private sector partners, to ensure that the stadium acts as a catalyst for regenerating the wider area.

The developments as a whole are set to bring huge benefits for local shops and businesses, and the LDA is harnessing those opportunities for local people with training and support. And whether it's dedicated work with targeted groups, or a light-hearted competition to name our new footbridge, we're also committed to engaging with local communities.

The stadium

The stadium is at the heart of a huge transformation in North-West London, acting as a catalyst for regeneration, bringing great benefits to local communities and business.

The impressive stadium has a circumference of 1km with seven levels and a roof that rises to 52m above the pitch. The 1,750 ton 'triumphant arch' is the largest stadium clear span roof structure in the world.

Higher than the London Eye, the arch has generated a new symbol for Wembley in place of the twin towers that decorated the old stadium.

The LDA, who are partnered in funding the £757 million development by WNSL (Wembley National Stadium Limited), the Football Association, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England, hope it will inspire young people to succeed in sport as well as providing a world class venue to support our national teams.

Wembley stadium fact file

• There will be a removable running track, cutting the capacity to 68,400 for staging athletics.
• With 90,000 seats, and 2,600 toilets it is one of the biggest stadiums in the world with every seat under cover and no obstructed views.
• There are 71,200 general admission seats, more than the entire capacity of any other stadium in the UK.
• Leg room is greatly increased and now measures more than was given in the Royal Box in the old stadium.
• One percent of the stadium turnover will be paid to the Wembley National Stadium Trust. This will be invested into grassroots sport across the country.
• Work has been completed on Wembley Park Station to upgrade its capacity to carry over 37,000 people an hour.
• It cost £352 million in construction alone, which rises to £757 million when buying the land, fees, interest on loans and demonlition.