Aston Villa plans to redevelop Villa Park on hold due to transport …

Plans to renovate Villa Park's North Stand are currently on hold due to transport concerns, despite Aston Villa[1] hoping to break ground on their stunning new redevelopment earlier this year.

Villa will totally redevelop their North Stand to add more than 7,000 to their capacity, which is phase one of their Villa Park[2] redevelopment plan. Plans also include pedestrianising part of Witton Lane, and adding an all-new multi-purpose building - Villa Live - which will include a club shop, museum as well as bars and eateries.

However, despite being given the all-clear to flatten and demolish the current - and dated - club store, ticket office and Family Fun Zone buildings, plans have been put on hold amid concerns surrounding Witton railway station.

READ | Monchi's Aston Villa transfer strategy and Unai Emery plan explained[3]

READ | Five things to know about Monchi after Aston Villa appointment[4]

The station, among the closest to a stadium in the Premier League, was labelled “not fit for purpose” by Villa’s outgoing chief executive Christian Purslow given the lack of trains and carriages put on for fans on matchdays. It’s understood Villa are awaiting funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority which, in 2021, funded the £30million redevelopment of Perry Barr railway station ahead of the Commonwealth Games[5].

Speaking at Birmingham City Council’s full meeting on Tuesday (June 13), councillor Lee Marsham (Nechells, Lab) put pressure on Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, to stump up the millions needed to upgrade Witton Station in line with Villa’s grand plans to improve their stadium in the months and years to come.

In response, Cllr Cotton said: “Now, clearly we want visitors to have the best possible experience so improvements to Witton Station are important, not just for this tournament but for the local community and for Villa fans who are travelling for games in the future. Aston Villa is one of the city’s key anchor institutions and I met with the club officials just last week, together with the deputy leader, to discuss not just this bid but their plans moving forward. I’ve tasked officers to work closely with Aston Villa to that effect.”

As reported previously by BirminghamLive, issues continued to stem from fans exiting Villa Park on match days with railway stations - namely Witton and Aston - far too small to cope with the number of supporters needing to get home. Fans also complained of the traffic getting onto the M6.

On such issues, Villa previously said: “We know there is room for improvement, and we are working on implementing your feedback to help improve travel to, from, and around the stadium on match days. We continue to work collaboratively with key partners stakeholders including local bus and rail operators and Transport for West Midlands to see how we can improve services in the local area over the longer term. This consultation will help us understand what you think will help and what could be implemented around Villa Park.

“Your feedback and the input from our stakeholders will help the development of the transport strategy which will be submitted as part of the planning application. This strategy will be continually reviewed at regular intervals through the development process and once the scheme is operational.”

A general view of Villa Park's North Stand A general view of Villa Park's North Stand

With regards to Villa’s new North Stand redevelopment, BirminghamLive has been told that construction work will only start once plans are in place to dramatically improve Witton station. Mayor Mr Street, meanwhile, spoke to BirminghamLive last week about the issues Villa supporters have been having involving the congested road and rail networks. He said: “The wonderful thing is that the club are working with the city to look at the whole area around Villa Park. But I would like to see more people come via public transport. That’s the easiest way as the ground gets bigger.

“It’s even more important that is done; [Witton] station and indeed Aston. That’s the real solution [to the travel problems]." He added: “We’re also going to need to think about car parking in the total travel plan for the ground at 50,000 and, obviously, the wonderful aspiration for this to be a Euro 2028 venue as well. We will need to think about those things. But Witton station is the No.1 priority.”

Villa will find out in September if their home, Villa Park, will host the UEFA European Championships in 2028. The stadium is one of ten arenas which are part of the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the tournament. Others include Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, St James’ Park in Newcastle and Hampden Park in Glasgow.

And should the UK and Ireland’s bid be successful, leader of Birmingham City Council[6] John Cotton believes it will boost the local economy by £117 million. Speaking inside the council chamber this week, Cllr Cotton said of Villa Park’s importance in hosting the European Championships in five years’ time: “I’m delighted Villa Park and the city of Birmingham have been selected by the FA to be a stadium and a host city for the UK and Ireland joint bid to host the UEFA men’s Euro 2028 tournament.

“If this bid is successful then we can expect to see tens of thousands of visitors come to this city as we host matches at the tournament. That’s a boost to our economy and, again, a further enhancement to our reputation as an international city. An early estimation of the impact of being a host city is £117.1 million which will provide an absolutely huge boost to our economy.”

After phase one of the Villa Park redevelopment plan has been complete, there is further scope to make that 60,000 in the years to come. Construction on the North Stand is expected to last between 18-24 months, subject to planning. Meanwhile, just a stone’s throw away from the stadium, Villa’s inner-city academy[7] is due to be complete next month.

Situated off Brookvale Road, the project will feature two 3G football pitches, car parking, changing rooms and a parents’ lounge. The new site will also be available for the local community to use.

References

  1. ^ Aston Villa (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  2. ^ Villa Park (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  3. ^ Monchi's Aston Villa transfer strategy and Unai Emery plan explained (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  4. ^ Five things to know about Monchi after Aston Villa appointment (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  5. ^ Commonwealth Games (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  6. ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
  7. ^ Villa’s inner-city academy (www.birminghammail.co.uk)

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