An overview of the North Stand at Villa Park (Photo credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images))

The mayor of the Midlands, Andy Street, has stated that the proposals to expedite Villa Park’s £100 million extension have been approved.

Aston Villa will finally start boosting Villa Park’s capacity from 42,000 to over 50,000 by May 2026 this coming summer. Following the significant Foo Fighters concert next summer (June 27, 2024), Villa will begin demolition work on the North Stand.

“Good to see plans for Villa Park’s expansion are moving forward, a truly transformative vision for the larger Witton area,” Street commented on X. The proposal to expedite the £100 million extension has been accepted. I ordered a research into Witton Station earlier this month, and everything is coming together.

Birmingham City Council gave the go-ahead for the construction of a new, multi-use facility just behind the North Stand in December 2022, but early this year, the club announced plans to make a small number of adjustments to their original ideas. The “Villa Live” structure was intended to feature a new retail section with the club store, food and beverage stands, a place to honor the club’s heritage, and an outdoor area with new seats and a bar area.

However, following Christian Purslow’s resignation as CEO at the conclusion of the previous campaign, Villa’s newly appointed president of business operations, Chris Heck, declared that the ‘Villa Live’ concept would be shelved in favor of renovations to the Academy building, formerly known as Stumps, on Witton Lane

Prior plans intended for the structure to be demolished, but it will now be transformed into The Warehouse, a brand-new fan area. A multipurpose event floor, a bar, a huge screen, and a food courtyard will all be included. Additionally, a microbrewery will be set up in this two-story building, which will also hold community activities like job fairs and be accessible to students. Football competitions may be held indoors in this structure.