The Trust as part of the FCG met with the Club’s Senior Management on Monday 27 June to view the redevelopment plans ahead of the start of the pre-planning consultation process. The Club shared the first phase of its long-term vision for Villa Park and the surrounding area.
As expected the centre piece of the first phase is the new North Stand which will connect to the Trinity Stand. In all, capacity will increase to over 50,000. Originally it was planned to follow the “Liverpool model” by building behind the existing stand. Though this causes minimal disruption, the lower structure of the existing stand remains and thereby compromising on the design. Consequently North Stand season ticket holders will be re-homed to other areas of the ground. Subject to planning approval being granted by the end of this year, it is expected demolition of the North Stand will commence in the autumn of 2023. The Club also want to make improvements to the fan experience through upgrades to the hospitality, food and beverage offering as well as better connectivity.
The plans also include a new multi-purpose venue – Villa Live. The venue will host the club shop, food and drink outlets as well as areas to show the Club’s heritage. Similar to Box Park (Wembley) in many ways. Some of you may recall the Aston Villa Leisure Centre as a venue for live music hosting the likes of Pulp and Manic Street Preachers. Villa Live will also be a medium-sized live music venue and an event space for the local community. It makes sound business sense to make Villa Park an all year destination and not just for a minimum of 19 days in the year. This will help the Club increase its revenue and build financial sustainability.
Redevelopment will also extend to improving the area along Witton Lane and around the new North Stand. This includes landscaping to create social spaces for people to better connect.
This only forms the first phase of the redevelopment of Villa Park. The regeneration of Aston goes beyond the responsibility of Aston Villa Football Club. It requires a coordinated multi-agency approach with the relevant bodies to deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits for the community. In an interview Christian Purslow stated: “We want to put Aston Villa and Birmingham on the world stage and hope the redevelopment will support our ambition to host future UEFA matches – especially if the country is successful with a bid for the Euros in 2028.” If we are to have any chance of hosting games, it will require a significant improvement in the transport infrastructure which is required regardless of any bid for the Euros.
For further details of the redevelopment plans, download the brochure and have your say by completing the Villa Park survey. The survey closes at 23.59 on Sunday 24 July.