Northumberland Development Project

The Northumberland Development Project sits in Tottenham, north London, around the new stadium built for Tottenham Hotspur. The area once held the old White Hart Lane ground, where the club played for more than a century. Plans for a modern replacement were first discussed in the late 2000s after earlier attempts to expand the old stadium failed. Delays came from objections by conservation groups and a long dispute over buying out local businesses. After revised plans gained approval, construction began in 2012, though the stadium itself started later. The project is worth the journey for its scale and ambition. It includes a 62,000-seat stadium that hosts both football and NFL games, the first in the UK with two pitches inside. A 180-room hotel, 585 new homes and a community health centre sit alongside the stadium. The NFL invested £10 million to secure two annual London Games here. The total cost is estimated near £1 billion, aimed at regenerating Tottenham itself. Visitors find a stadium with a dividing retractable grass pitch over a synthetic surface below. Lilywhite House holds a Sainsbury’s supermarket, a sixth-form college and the club’s offices. A public square and two amphitheatres sit outside, designed by Martha Schwartz Partners. The Spurs museum and club shop welcome fans, while an extreme sports facility offers extra activities. The whole site forms a busy hub where sport, shopping and community uses meet.