Aston Villa Stadium Expansion Set for Vote in Birmingham

Plans to expand Villa Park, the home of Premier League club Aston Villa since 1897, is on the verge of being approved by local city council with the target of being ready to potentially host matches as part of the 2028 European Championships.

Birmingham City Council’s planning committee will gather August 28, reported The Athletic, with a view to voting on redevelopment plans to increase the number of seats available in the North Stand to more than 12,000. Villa Park currently holds 42,640 spectators and is the 11th largest stadium in England.

“Once operational, the project will contribute an estimated £119.9m to the West Midlands economy each year, creating hundreds of jobs during and post-construction, and attracting 1.65m visitors to the local area annually,” Aston Villa said in a section on the club website about Villa Park’s future.

Villa has been aiming for the redevelopment to be completed in the second half of 2027 ahead of the Euro 2028. This is so that the stadium is ready for UEFA Euro 2028, which it is due to be a host venue for.

The Athletic said it has seen draft papers with details of the application and that “it has been recommended for approval by council planners and, therefore, work on extending the North Stand should be authorized.”

Villa has long planned to update the venue. Planning permission was secured in December 2022 before the project was postponed in 2023. The Athletic’s story said the planning application includes research on how fans get to Villa Park with 59% by car, 30% on train and 3% via bus.

“We continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the elements of the project which Aston Villa does not control, such as transport system and infrastructure works, are prioritized to ensure the best outcome for our fans, the local community, the city and the wider region,” the club said on its website.

Villa Park has hosted 55 FA Cup semifinals, more than any other stadium. It hosted three matches in the 1966 World Cup won by England and four matches during Euro ’96 along with the 1999 European Cup Winners’ Cup (now known as the Europa League) and 2012 Community Shield.