Area around Villa Park could become ‘world class destination’

Birmingham City Council has said the area around Villa Park will become a “world class destination” as it unveiled a vision for the city’s future.

The authority has recently published its draft Local Plan, which sheds light on how it can help shape the city’s future over the next two decades.

In particular, it sets out how the council can support economic development, address housing need and attract investment while also focusing on regeneration opportunities.

This draft Local Plan provides insight into how certain neighbourhoods could be transformed in the next 20 years, including the Witton and Aston area – home of Aston Villa’s stadium.

The council says this area of the city will become a “world class cultural destination”, focusing on Villa Park and the adjacent Aston Hall and Park.

“[It will have] a thriving local community at its heart, supporting increased leisure and tourism, hotel, conference, community and leisure uses,” it said.

The council has said it will take several actions in the coming years to make sure this vision is realised, including:

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• Supporting investment in Villa Park, which is extending its North Stand and recently opened The Warehouse venue.
• Protecting and enhancing Aston Hall and Aston Park as “key historic features and cultural facilities”.
• Delivering new homes on underused industrial land along Tame Road.
• Enhancing Witton local centre through a programme of public realm improvements, green infrastructure and wayfinding.
• Identifying the Witton Lane units and car park site as a redevelopment opportunity, which “should incorporate a mixture of town centre uses including retail, community, culture, and leisure”.
• Looking at development proposals which will be expected to improve the River Tame watercourse.

• Witton Railway Station will be improved while improvements to other public transport facilities will also help to “ensure the area is highly accessible”.
• Exploring improvements to how vehicles move around the area in a bid to address congestion.

On connectivity woes in the area, the draft Local Plan went on to say: “Congestion is an issue in the area, particularly on match and event days.

“In the longer term, a programme of interventions will be delivered that address this and help to create a people-focused environment.

“This may include the downgrading on some of the road network, the creation of pedestrian priority streets and measures that reduce the impact of issues such as pavement parking.”

It continued that Witton Station is currently “poorly lit, consists of narrow platforms and frequent overcrowding on matchdays”.

“[It] would benefit from redevelopment to improve its safety and overall experience,” it said.

“Improved pedestrian links to Aston Station are also needed. Detailed work is being undertaken to establish what improvements are deliverable.”

On Villa Park itself,  it went on to say that identifying the area as a Growth Zone recognises the “important role” the stadium plays in the economy of the surrounding area.

“The club is committed to investing in their future and has bold proposals to increase capacity and facilitate a wider range of activity at the site,” it said.

The draft Local Plan is set to be discussed by the council’s cabinet members on Tuesday, July 28.