Bristol City is fed up with the lack of progress on their proposed new Ashton Vale stadium, and has therefore presented plans for the redevelopment of their present Ashton Gate Stadium.
The plans are as follows:
The club’s spiritual home in South Bristol would be redeveloped in stages over time to incorporate new stands where the existing Wedlock and Williams stands are currently sited, and these together with renovation works to the Dolman Stand would increase the capacity to over 26,000 seats. Work would also be carried out to the interior of the Atyeo Stand.
The plans for a redeveloped Ashton Gate already include space for a club shop and museum of sport, as well a large “Wedlock’s Pub” area incorporated into the site.
The plans will come at a cost of £40 million and Bristol City will share Ashton Gate with rugby club Bristol Rugby. It will look like this:
The fate of the club’s Ashton Vale plans will be decided in October, but the club wants to have an alternative ready in case it won’t be able to get planning permission.
Jon Lansdown, on behalf of the Bristol City board:
“These plans give us a viable alternative to Ashton Vale. The landowners of Ashton Vale remain very confident that they will be successful at the Inquiry in October, but we need to make sure we have an alternative as, regardless of where it is sited, the Club needs a new stadium. We now have a way forward in that regard.”
If the redevelopment plans go ahead, it will take about three years for the redeveloped stadium to be ready.
(Photo: © Stephan Hoogerwaard)