English League One club Portsmouth has confirmed that it is preparing to submit a planning application to commence the first phase of a redevelopment of its 21,200-capacity Fratton Park stadium.
Portsmouth said that the application would be submitted “shortly” following an extensive review and ongoing consultations with various parties, including specialist designers, architects, planners, the Heritage & Advisory Board and fans.
The initial upgrades will focus on the Milton End stand and feature a new concourse, two new covered areas for home and away disabled supporters and an increase in the current capacity to 3,200.
The ability to segregate the stand – which usually seats away fans – into four sections, will also allow up to 800 home fans to be accommodated for certain home matches. The club said that the plan were being finalised with the support of experts despite such redevelopment work being “severely constrained by a number of physical obstacles”.
“While work continues to address and ensure the safety and security of supporters, as part of the general proposed redevelopment of the stadium – and due to a variety of operational reasons – phase one planning is to be submitted specifically in regard to the Milton End,” the club said.
“As has been previously advised, while planning is to be submitted for this first phase, there remains issues relating to more general transport and access infrastructure that is outside of the club’s control.
“We continue to work with a variety of external private, public and government bodies in an attempt to unlock the commencement of phase one, as well as subsequent larger scale projects for the stadium and wider Fratton area.”
Image: Steve Daniels
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