Multi-million-pound plans have been submitted for a new 5,000-seater stand at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

Facilities at the Perry Barr stadium are to be updated in preparation for training for the 2012 Olympics.

As well as the new stand, a further £1.2million is set to be spent upgrading the outdoor athletics track and warm-up surfaces. An extension will also be added to the indoor training centre.

The stadium, which is located within Perry Park, was built in 1975.

It is home to Birchfield Harriers whose star athletes include Wolverhampton’s Denise Lewis and Darlaston-born Mark Lewis-Francis.

If approved, the new stand will have 5,018 seats and include office space for sports-related professionals.

There will also be extra car parking and floodlighting and food and drinks stalls.

A planning statement to Birmingham City Council said: “It is without question that the facility is a major asset to Birmingham and to the athletic community in general.

“The provision of the new stand will form an integral part of ongoing improvements to the stadium, including an upgraded runn- ing track and repositioning of the jump areas, which the city council is committed to as part of its hosting of the USA athletics team in 2010 prior to the Olympic Games.”

The stadium opened to the public in 1976 and is the city’s sole venue for major outdoor athletics events. It has hosted major televised meetings such as the Olympic Trials and the UK Championships.

At present it provides 7,800 covered seats in three separate stands named Main, Knowles and Nelson.

Birmingham has already been chosen by the USA and Jamaican track and field teams as the host city during the 2012 Games.

The move means the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt will live and train at Birmingham University. The combined deals are believed to be worth £15 million.

Birmingham triumphed over cities including Cardiff, Loughborough, Amsterdam and Berlin to secure the Jamaican team.

Up to 200 track and field athletes, along with scores of coaches, officials, support staff, family and friends, will be in the city in the run up to the London Olympics.