• Development of £25m new stadium set to begin next summer • Club hope to 11,000-seat venue is ready for 2019-20 season

AFC Wimbledon have been given the green light to build a new stadium in their home London borough.

Representatives from the League One club, Merton council and developer GRA Acquisitions signed paperwork on Wednesday which means work can start at the site of the old Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium on Plough Lane.

Development of the £25m stadium is due to start next summer and the club hope to move into the 11,000-seat ground for the start of the 2019-20 season.

The old Wimbledon club, who moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and became MK Dons, played close to the site of the planned new Plough Lane stadium from 1912 to 1991. AFC Wimbledon formed as a result of the controversial move and currently play their home matches at Kingsmeadow, which was previously home to Kingstonian.

AFC Wimbledon’s chief executive, Erik Samuelson, hailed a “momentous day” after the permission was granted. “Everyone in football knows the story of how AFC Wimbledon came into being. A group of fans started with nothing; no ground, no team, no manager, no players and no kit,” said Samuelson.

“Now, 15 years later, we’ve taken a giant step towards going home to Merton, in a new stadium and as a Football League club. This is a momentous day for us. Everybody who has helped the club to reach this point must be very proud.”