San Siro Given Green Light to Be Demolished Ahead of New Stadium Redevelopment

Findings made by the Regional Commission for the cultural heritage of Lombardy have deemed the San Siro has no 'cultural interest' and can be demolished ahead of AC Milan and Inter's new stadium plans.

Proposals for a new €1bn stadium were put forward by both Serie A clubs earlier this month, as the legendary Italian venue is set to embark on its final few seasons before being redeveloped.

One of the steps being taken ahead of the new plans being implemented was to discern whether San Siro held any architectural value before both Inter and Milan were given the green light to begin their new plans.

Their initial proposals were to demolish almost all the of the historic ground, with just an element of the legendary stadium being incorporated into the most recent designs.

A case was put forward by Milanese mayor Beppe Sala which was in favour of restructuring San Siro as opposed to demolishing it, although La Repubblica report that the commission deemed the ground too modern to need its cultural heritage left untouched.

Due to an expansion between 1937 and 1939, as well as further work in the second half of the 20th century, the alterations have meant many of its pre-war qualities are no longer intact, and thus the Serie A giants can move ahead with their plans.

Those include two designs, proposed by Populous and Manica/Sportium, which will create a retail and sports district - containing the likes of running tracks, gyms and sport museums - that still retains a part of the current stadium.

The current 75,000-seater ground was completed in 1926, and was later re-named after Italian football legend Giuseppe Meazza in 1980, but has shown signs of wear and tear in recent years with plans for a new home having been mooted for some time.

For more from Ross Kennerley, follow him on Twitter!