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Local planners unanimously backed the Cherries expansion plan last week, giving the green light for the Premier League’s smallest ground to expand from around 11,300 seats to more than 20,000.
Contractor Stadium Structures has already been appointed as preconstruction partner and main contractor for the redevelopment after previously carrying out hospitality upgrades at the ground.
The contractor will now lead phased delivery of the expansion programme designed to keep the Cherries playing at the Vitality Stadium throughout the works.
The redevelopment centres on demolishing and rebuilding the South Stand into a new 7,000-seat grandstand while vertically and horizontally extending the North and East stands and infilling all four corners.
But the club has been forced to resequence the construction programme after the planning timetable slipped later into May.
Initial plans would have delivered a new South Stand lower tier and corner infills before the start of the 2026/27 season, creating around 1,500 extra seats.
Instead, the revised programme prioritises enabling works, infrastructure upgrades and operational continuity.
This summer’s works package will now focus on utilities diversions, new perimeter fencing, turnstiles, outside broadcast facilities, pedestrian and cycle route changes and West Stand wing extensions.
Hospitality refurbishments to the West and East stands will also go ahead in parallel.
Vitality Stadium redevelopment programme
| Package | Scope of works | Delivery timing |
|---|---|---|
| Enabling works | Utilities diversions, OB compound, fencing, access changes and infrastructure works | Summer 2026 |
| Corner infills | North-West and South-East corner seating expansion | Early 2026/27 season |
| Hospitality upgrades | West and East stand lounge refurbishments and new hospitality areas | Summer 2026 onwards |
| South Stand upper tier | Phased construction of new upper seating tier | During 2026/27 season |
| South Stand lower tier | Demolition and rebuild of lower bowl seating | Post-2026/27 season |
| North and East stand expansion | Vertical and horizontal stand extensions plus remaining corner infills | Final project phase |
The club will additionally press ahead with North-West and South-East corner infills, creating around 800 additional seats shortly after the start of the 2026/27 season.
Under the revised strategy, the existing South Stand will remain operational throughout next season, with upper-tier construction planned during the campaign and lower-tier works starting after the season ends.