Mega-rich Premier League club make shock U-turn on £100million plans to transform stadium into 50,000-plus seat ground

ASTON VILLA'S plans to expand Villa Park have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

The Premier League side had already been granted planning permission to completely rebuild the North Stand.

It would have seen the capacity increase by 10,000 seats to 52,000.

However, Villa's president of business operations Chris Heck is not convinced that 2024 would be the right time to expand.

He believes the club would be adding "too many seats too fast".

Speaking in a video for the official Aston Villa website, Heck said: "We have 42,000 seats. A substantial amount. To add on 10,000 right now doesn’t seem practical to me.

"We talk about Villa Park being a fortress. It is true. I think it would be a bad idea to tear down one of the stands for two years while we are playing like we are.

"Going forward, I think everything should be about all fans and not just one particular stand."

Villa Park's current capacity of 42,600 would have been reduced to around 34,000 while the rebuild took place.

Aston Villa already have more than 30,000 fans on a season ticket waiting list, which is why club officials initially decided to go through with the expansion plans.

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However, Heck is concerned about how the infrastructure around the stadium and in local areas would cope with the increased capacity.

He added: "They are extremely ambitious ideas. During the summer months I became concerned we were adding too many seats too fast.

"I believe it was important we took a step back and re-evaluate what is best for our fans.

"I mention this with the transportation and the parking situation."

Aston Villa currently sit third in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of leaders Arsenal.