Plans to extend Villa Park’s North Stand could help generate a huge £190 million boost for the region in 2028.
Aston Villa are seeking permission to add nearly 6,000 seats to the stand, taking the stadium’s capacity to almost 49,000.
The football club’s revised vision seeks to “adapt, reuse and expand” the existing stand rather than demolish it, with the plans aiming to complete the transformation of the wider northern precinct.
A council report has now confirmed the proposals have been recommended for approval ahead of a planning meeting next week.
Along with the new club shop earlier this year and The Warehouse due to open by December 2025, the expansion of the stand would help “modernise the stadium’s surroundings”.
The report continued that the North Stand plans would complete a vision “that ensures Villa Park is not only a top-tier football stadium but also a year-round destination for fans and the local community”.
But the expansion of the stand is also required due to Birmingham being named as a host city for the Euros in 2028.
The tournament is set to take place at several stadiums across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland in three years’ time, with Villa Park one of the planned venues.
“There is an ambition for Villa Park (as a host stadium) to reach a spectator capacity of over 50,000 for this tournament,” the council report said. “This planning application is key to this being achieved.”
On the economic benefits the new stand could provide, it continued that it’s expected to attract 255,850 additional annual visitors and generate a further £13 million GVA (Gross Value Added).
“There would also be a significant inward investment throughout the Euro 2028 competition,” it added about the tournament.
“It is estimated that the tournament will generate almost £190 million of socio-economic benefits for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.”
Another long-term economic benefit would include the creation of 195 new full-time jobs.
The report went on to say that the redevelopment of North Stand, along with The Warehouse, would provide an array of social benefits, including accessible and inclusive spaces for the community.
Other benefits include:
- Enhanced sporting, educational, meeting and event spaces at Villa Park.
- A wide range of health, wellbeing, and education projects including grassroots
- football, employment support, community events, school engagement activities, disability sport and youth programmes.
- Enhanced public realm of the northern precinct.
The report concluded: “The proposal by its nature would […] promote Birmingham as an international city supporting development, investment and other initiatives that raise the city’s profile.
“The proposal represents a sustainable, well-designed development that would enhance visual amenity and improve the public realm and user experience.”
The club has previously made clear that any capacity increase must be “done in tandem” with improvements to local transport.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker previously committed to improving Witton Station, a development that enables Villa to proceed with the North Stand works.
“Without that commitment we will be unable to proceed with this project and furthermore would need to re-examine whether we would be able to continue as a Euro 2028 host venue,” Aston Villa said in April 2025.
Following the release of funding by the government to boost the West Midlands transport network, Mr Parker said in June: “I promised to secure the funding for Witton Station and this new investment means we can deliver improvements to the station for both Aston Villa and the wider community.
“We’re now working with partners to ensure we have a delivery plan to implement the changes needed ahead of the Euros in 2028.”
The North Stand proposals will be considered at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, August 28.
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