Court blocks Real Madrid’s $450m stadium revamp

The Royal Court of Madrid has halted plans to redevelop Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium by annulling the city council’s grant of planning permission that was made in November 2012. 

The $450m development was to have increased the ground’s capacity from 85,000 to 90,000 and introduced a retractable roof and remodelled exteriors. A hotel and shopping centre were to have been built adjacent to the facilities. 

The club said in a statement: "Real Madrid will work with the City Council and the Community of Madrid to address those aspects that require attention in order to make the Santiago Bernabéu reform project viable." 

The development was due to have been completed in 2017. It is not known why the project has been stopped, however The Independent revealed in April 2013 that the European Commission was investigating whether Madrid council had supplied state aid to the redevelopment in the form of land, which is forbidden under EU competition rules. 

Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president, has said that the redevelopment is vital to the club’s future competitiveness in European football.  

Photograph: Artists depiction of the new Santiago Bernabéu stadium (Real Madrid)