By Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa Football Club welcomes the release of funding by the government to boost the West Midlands transport network.

This week’s announcement comes as the Club has recently submitted detailed plans for the extension of the North Stand at Villa Park, working with the Council to achieve the statutory target of the application’s determination in August 2025.

In addition to the expansion of the seating capacity, the new, state-of-the-art North Stand will form the centrepiece of the North Grounds redevelopment.

The reimagined plaza behind the North Stand will also see the existing club store improvements being completed this month as well as the opening of the Warehouse, a purpose-built multi-use facility on the site of the existing academy building. This will serve as a Fanzone on matchdays and can be converted into a 3,000-capacity concert venue, as well as functioning as a community space on non-matchdays with plans to open the facility in late December 2025.

The Club’s commitment to the redevelopment of the local area has already seen the construction of the inner-city academy at Brookvale which serves as a base for the Foundation’s and academy’s numerous and varied programmes.

This entire project is underpinned by significant improvements needing to be made to Witton Station, one of the major public transport arteries around Villa Park - improvements that will now be funded.

Nassef Sawiris, Executive Chairman of Aston Villa FC, said: “We are delighted that the much-needed funding has now been committed. Improving Witton Station is a critical aspect of our wider endeavour to improve the matchday experience for all fans visiting Villa Park. We are also excited to continue progressing our North Stand extension and to completing the works to the wider Villa Park campus alongside helping to implement the works plan for Witton Station for the benefit of Aston and the surrounding areas.”

Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor, added: “I promised to secure the funding for Witton Station and this new investment means we can deliver improvements to the station for both Aston Villa and the wider community. We're now working with partners to ensure we have a delivery plan to implement the changes needed ahead of the Euros in 2028.”