Construction to double the capacity of AFC Bournemouth’s stadium is due to start this summer.
The club has started preparatory work for the redevelopment of the Vitality Stadium, with initial enabling works now underway, Construction News’ sister title New Civil Engineer has reported.
It comes after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council gave planning approval in January for the scheme, which data provider Glenigan has estimated at £85m.
The redevelopment will see the stadium’s capacity rise from 11,286 seats to just over 20,000, although the club says the scheme remains subject to further permissions.
A fuller planning application is at the consultation stage and is expected to be considered by the council’s planning committee in early May 2026.
If the remaining approvals are granted, planned works to take place during the off-season (June to August) include:
- Demolition of the existing South Stand.
- Construction of a new 3,000‑seat lower tier in the South Stand.
- Infill of the south‑east and north‑west corners.
- Relocation of turnstiles to a new external perimeter, creating a larger outer concourse.
- A newly built, relocated ticket office at that perimeter will become operational.
- Internal refurbishment of the East and West stands, including three new hospitality areas.
- Upgraded media seating and broadcast facilities in the West Stand.
This will see an overall capacity increase of more than 1,500 seats in the initial phases, ready for the 2026/27 season.
Ongoing erection of the South Stand upper tier will continue through the 2026/27 season. This will bring the South Stand’s total capacity to 7,000.
Further work will then begin during the 2027 close season, which will see capacity rise to an estimated 20,200. This includes remaining corner infills and extensions to the North and East stands. The timeframe for completion of these elements is not concrete at this point.
The redevelopment follows a wave of stadium projects across English football as clubs seek to boost matchday revenue and enhance fan experience.
Any final timetable and the precise scope of work remain contingent on planning consent and detailed contractor mobilisation. Local residents and fans will be able to view the fuller planning proposals during the consultation ahead of the May 2026 planning committee meeting.
Vitality Stadium, traditionally known as Dean Court, has been Bournemouth’s home since 1910. The expansion will represent the largest redevelopment in its history, underscoring the club’s evolution since their rise to the Premier League.