Villa Park redevelopment: Key Aston Villa changes explained …
Aston Villa[1] will submit revised plans for phase one of their redevelopment of Villa Park following a review of the original proposed scheme.
Club owners Nassef Sawiris[2] and Wes Edens[3] are fully committed to delivering a plan which will establish Villa Park as a world-class sporting and entertainment destination in the coming years, but following planning approval granted by Birmingham City Council[4] in December 2022, Villa intend to make a modest number of changes to their proposals.
Here's everything we know about the new changes...
READ | We spent £130m on seven Aston Villa transfers to give Unai Emery his dream window[5]
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What are the phase one redevelopment changes?
The latest plan seeks to retain and revitalise the academy/stumps building to create a new multi-use experience and enhanced matchday and event fan zone. This will involve a full refurbishment to improve the visual appearance of the building, introducing community and commercial activities as well as a new home for the club's administrative functions, which will be moved out of the North Stand.
Villa now intends to accommodate the club shop and a new sports bar café into the new North Stand, which therefore requires some small design changes to the proposed new North Stand elevations. Villa will totally redevelop their North Stand to add more than 7,000 to their capacity.
Why are these changes being made?
The club stress that these changes are to ensure all the key benefits of the scheme can be delivered as quickly as possible. They will be submitted in July as a set of minor updates to their approved planning application and a separate new planning application for the renovation of the existing 'academy/stumps building' located opposite the North Stand on Witton Lane.
What's happening to Villa Live?
Villa insist that the vision for Villa Live as an active lifestyle destination remains unchanged and their consented permission for the new building will stay active for 'us to deliver in the future'. Their new plans will enable them to deliver many of the benefits of Villa Live, however, in a shorter timescale whilst ensuring their plans remain sustainable, and of high quality and maintain their commitment and benefits to the local community.
The impact of Witton station
Witton station, which is among the closest to a stadium in the Premier League, was labelled “not fit for purpose” by Villa’s former 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[7].
Speaking at Birmingham City Council’s full meeting earlier this month (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.”
What has Andy Street said?
Mayor Mr Street previously spoke to BirminghamLive 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.”
EURO 2028 bid
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[8] 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.”
Where can I find out more?
The club will hold a public consultation about the revised plans for the Villa Park redevelopment on Wednesday, July 5 between 4pm to 7pm. This will take place at the academy building at Villa Park.
What do you make of the news? Tell us in the comments section...[9]
References
- ^ Aston Villa (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Nassef Sawiris (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Wes Edens (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ We spent £130m on seven Aston Villa transfers to give Unai Emery his dream window (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Pau Torres to Aston Villa transfer latest: Unai Emery talks and Bayern Munich interest (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Commonwealth Games (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ comments section... (www.birminghammail.co.uk)