Plans would help club get closer to intended 50,000 seat capacity
Birmingham city council has approved Grimsahw’s plans to expand Aston Villa’s stadium ahead of Euro 2028.
The city is one of the host cities for the competition and Villa Park one of the host stadiums.
Aston Villa’s proposals to expand the North Stand of its stadium form part of its plan to increase its capacity to 50,000 seats in time for the tournament.
The club, which finished 6th in the Premier League last season, had already secured permission for planned works to the stadium in 2022.
These would have seen the existing North Stand demolished and replaced with a new stand as well as a multi-use leisure building.
But the newly-approved proposals, which will adapt, reuse and expand the existing stand, are seen as more practical.
They will see spectator capacity increased by 5,926 seats to around 48,800, as well as around 54 wheelchair user positions added.
This will be achieved by adapting and extending the existing deck in the bowl backwards, upwards and outwards. The current facade would be retained and reclad, while the roof will be replaced with a new one, which, according to planning documents, will “appear to float above the Stand” and will allow light to pass through.
The extended stand would be 34.5m in height, taller than the current 28m but smaller than the previously consented scheme.
According to the design and access statement, the ultimate aim is to get the stadium up to a 50,000-seat capacity through “other smaller bowl optimisation projects” which are not included in the application.
WSP is providing a variety of technical services, while Core Five is providing cost management.
The council granted approval for the scheme yesterday (Thursday 28th August), on the conditions that the development begins within three years.
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