Hertha Berlin finally secure long-awaited breakthrough in new 55,000-seater stadium plans

Hertha Berlin have taken a major step towards finally leaving the Olympiastadion after Berlin's Senate backed a potential site for a new football-only ground.

The breakthrough could pave the way for a 55,000-capacity stadium after nine years of planning discussions.

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Hertha have been seeking a new home for almost a decade, with the club wanting a more intimate stadium without an athletics track.

The Olympiastadion has been Hertha's home since 1963 and currently holds around 74,000 spectators.

The Senate's expert commission has now concluded that a site on Jesse-Owens-Allee within the Olympiapark is “fundamentally suitable” for a new stadium and has recommended that Hertha submit a preliminary building application.

The review process has examined transport links, planning regulations, noise control, environmental law, heritage considerations and the impact on the existing Olympiastadion.

Berlin Senator for the Interior and Sport Iris Spranger said the recommendation allows Hertha to take the next step, while Governing Mayor Kai Wegner described a dedicated football stadium as a “double win” for the club and Berlin.

A preliminary building permit would give the German side greater clarity over the planning, traffic and environmental requirements before the club seeks an investor and develops a viable financial model.

Hertha are targeting a stadium of around 55,000 seats, with construction expected to cost between €300 million (£258 million) and €400 million (£344 million).

A separate company is expected to be established to attract investment, while Berlin has stressed it must not carry the cost of developing the site.

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This is a significant moment for Hertha after years of talking about a new home.

A 55,000-capacity football-specific stadium would appear a much better fit for the club than the huge Olympiastadion, particularly when there is no need for an athletics track.

There is still a long way to go, especially with the financing and planning process, but finally having an officially backed site gives Hertha something concrete to build towards.