Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has confirmed that its proposed new stadium has received approval from the mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The decision is a significant step forward in the development of the planned 61,000-capacity stadium – designed by global sports architects Populous – which will replace the English Premier League side’s existing White Hart Lane ground in north London.

"This marks yet another major milestone for this vital and complex scheme and we are grateful to the mayor for his ongoing support,” said club chairman Daniel Levy. “We remain focussed on completing the final stages of the planning process.”

In addition to the stadium, 579 new homes, a community health centre and improved street infrastructure will all be created as part of a £400m (US$559.4m, €506.1m) scheme, which is called the Northumberland Development Project.

Spurs is also planning to establish an entertainment district around the ground, with plans in place for a 180-room hotel, an extreme sports centre, a “Sky Walk” adrenaline attraction on the roof of the stadium and a ‘Tottenham Experience’ – a permanent visitor attraction and museum charting the club’s history.

Levy said the plans would “play a key role in kick-starting place change, bringing exceptional opportunities for the local community and wider stakeholders.”

Johnson said: “White Hart Lane is already an iconic stadium, steeped in history, and the new venue will not only almost double its capacity, but provide world-class facilities to watch Premier League football, international sports events and concerts in the heart of the capital.

“The stadium will also be the focal point of a major drive to regenerate Tottenham, breathing new life into the area, creating jobs and boosting growth.”

In November last year the club announced it had appointed engineering consultants Mace to create the pre-construction plans for the stadium, which is expected to be completed by 2018, in time for the start of the 2018-19 Premier League season.

The stadium will be wrapped in a sculptured mesh and include four asymmetrical stands and a glass facade to the new home end.

Planning permission from Haringey Council was granted in December 2015 and approval from the mayor’s office was seen as the last significant hurdle for the club to overcome.