Go-ahead secured for Villa Park expansion
Designed by storied architecture firm Grimshaw, the North Stand’s redevelopment will boost capacity at the home of Aston Villa by 6,000 seats and upgrade the stadium’s surrounds.
Combined with interventions across the other three stands at Villa Park, the programme will take total capacity from the current 43,000 to above 50,000, with work taking place ahead of hosting games in the 2028 European Championship.
WSP has led the professional team on the project, providing planning, heritage and other advice. The project was greenlit by Birmingham City Council on 28 August.
Grimshaw’s sports portfolio includes the redevelopment of Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, completed in 2024, and work at the All England Club including both an overall masterplan and the remodelling of No. 1 Court in 2019. The firm is also renowned for its Eden Project work.
Works are inked in to take place on Villa Park’s refurbishment, which will involve adapting and extending the existing stand, then tackling the are immediately behind, across the second half of 2027, ahead of Euro 2028, which the UK is co-hosting with Ireland. Villa Park was also a host for Euro 96.
Francesco Calvo, AVFC’s president of business operations, said: “We are delighted that we have been granted planning permission for the North Stand development. This is not only critical to the sustained economic growth of the club but will also allow more of our loyal supporters to attend matches.
“The approval from Birmingham City Council allows us to continue to invest in our facilities to deliver a first-class matchday experience for our supporters as well as helping to make Villa Park a go-to destination for concerts, events and the local community.”
Villa Park should have a capacity of 50,000 for the 2028 Euros. Credit: AVFC
Also in line for an upgrade is Witton station, Villa Park’s closest transport hub. Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor, said: “Huge congratulations to Aston Villa – another of the region’s footballing giants going from strength to strength. This is a massive step towards making Villa Park a world-class stadium and a top venue for the 2028 Euros.
“And the good news doesn’t stop there. We’ve got funding to upgrade Witton Station and we’re working closely with the club and our rail partners to make sure fans get the great train arrival they deserve.”
The club has been looking to redevelop the stand, the part of Villa Park that has gone the longest since a serious intervention, over several years, with a 2022 consent giving permission for its replacement as part of the wider “Northern Grounds” project.
There has since been a rethink, with the club opting to revamp what it already has in place stand-wise, combining this with new-build elements – a new club shop opened in May, and the multi-use Warehouse building is due to complete later this year.
Villa said the project as a whole will grow the club’s gross contribution to the local economy to some £120m per year, including supporting over 1,700 full-time equivalent jobs as well as attracting more than 1.1m visitors to Villa Park every year.
All documents relating to the project can be viewed on Birmingham City Council’s planning portal, with the reference 2025/02905/PA.
