Villa Park North Stand expansion to go ahead

6,000 NEW SEATS TO BE ADDED IN WIDER PLANS FOR NEW PRECINCT

- ALEXANDER BROCK Local Democracy Reporter

MAJOR proposals to extend Villa Park’s North Stand have been given the green light by council planners.

Aston Villa sought permission to add nearly 6,000 seats to the stand, taking the stadium's capacity to almost 49,000.

The club's revised vision is to “adapt, reuse and expand” the existing stand rather than demolish it, with the plans aiming to complete the transformation of the wider northern precinct.

Council officers recommended the proposals for approval at planning meeting yesterday.

Cllr Lee Marsham, chair of the planning committee, said: “The success of both the club and the city go hand in hand”

Adding to the existing stand, rather than demolishing it, was a “win-win situation”

But he also acknowledged the council, the club and the police “need to work better together to solve some of the matchday issues”