£22m plan approved for Sheffield’s Hillsborough Stadium

Sheffield City Council’s planning officers have approved and commended a major investment scheme for Hillsborough Stadium, home to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Already one of the most iconic and historic venues in English football, Hillsborough is set to be re-energised by the plans, which will develop the venue into the biggest community stadium in the country.

What is the significance of the scheme?

The plans will enable the club to meet FIFA's 2018 World Cup criteria, ensuring that Sheffield is fully prepared to host the biggest sporting competition on the planet.

What are FIFA’s hosting criteria?

Among other things, FIFA requires any stadium hoping to host World Cup matches to offer around 45,000 seats, with unrestricted views of the pitch.

What does the plan entail?

The scheme will:

• Expand the stadium's capacity from 38,000 to 44,800, by installing additional seating between the North Stand and the Kop
• Add a new tier and roof to the West Stand.
• Enable pillars to be removed from existing sight-lines by adding a massive arch over the Kop, which will be the longest single-span girder in the country
• Include a 3-storey building behind the North Stand to house a shop, classrooms and enterprise zones.
• Create a permanent 2-storey indoor training centre at the club's Middlewood Road site, replacing a temporary air dome.