Birmingham City Council has approved plans for the redevelopment of Aston Villa Football Club’s North Stand at Villa Park, paving the way for a significant expansion of the stadium’s capacity ahead of Euro 2028.
The scheme will increase capacity by 5,926 seats, taking the ground’s total to around 48,800, according to council planning committee minutes published yesterday (28 August).
The project also includes hard and soft landscaping, additional car parking, and improvements to public realm, with a new arrival plaza and coach drop-off area proposed to the north of the stadium.
WSP is acting as the planning agent for Aston Villa Football Club, which is both the applicant and client for the scheme.
A main contractor has not yet been announced.
The redevelopment will adapt and extend the existing North Stand rather than replace it, reusing the current concrete structure. The new stand will feature a glazed facade, metal mesh stair cores, and a roof designed to appear as if it “floats” above the structure to reduce visual bulk and allow in natural light.
The North Stand plan marks the final phase of the wider Northern Precinct redevelopment around Villa Park.
Earlier elements included a new club shop, which opened in April 2025, and a refurbished academy building—renamed The Warehouse—set to open by the end of the year.
The North Stand extension is intended to support Villa Park’s role as a host stadium for the UEFA European Football Championship in 2028.
The club’s planning submission stated the work would help realise the stadium’s long-term redevelopment vision and make it a “year-round destination” for the community and visitors.
The extension will reach a maximum height of 34.5 metres, up from the current 28 metres, and includes new hospitality areas, general admission seating, and 54 wheelchair-accessible spaces.
Planning officers noted that the scheme would deliver substantial public benefits without causing harm to nearby heritage assets, including the Grade I-listed Aston Hall and other listed buildings within the adjacent conservation area.
Construction is expected to take place while retaining the operational use of the stadium, although details of the phasing and build programme have not yet been confirmed.
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Ben Vogel