Stockport County's Edgeley Park stadium expansion plans take major step forward

Stockport County's plan to expand Edgeley Park has taken a step forward after the club submitted proposals to the council.

An extra 7,000 seats could be added to the ground subject to planning permission, bringing the total capacity to more than 18,000 as part of the club's vision to return to Championship level football. The team stormed to the top of League Two last season, finishing with 92 points and beating Wrexham to the title.

If approved, works would include the eastern expansion and refurbishment of the Danny Bergara Stand (North Stand) and Railway End (East Stand). The expanded North Stand would provide around 600 additional seats, increasing the capacity of this stand to around 3,312, while the new East Stand would see its capacity increase from 1,366 up to around 4,449.

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Long-term plans also include redeveloping the South Stand to increase capacity to around 5,500, and creating new food and beverage and hospitality facilities. Bergara Close is set to be secured long-term as a coach parking site, which it is currently being used for under temporary arrangements.

The final element would be a western extension to the North Stand, providing another 600 seats. The club is looking to begin work on the North Stand extension in early 2025, but stated that this would not affect fans currently seated in the area.

Stockport County predicts the expansion would be 'huge for both Edgeley and Stockport', bringing an extra 150,000 fans to the stadium each year. Once complete, it would create new casual and permanent roles at the ground.

Residents around Edgeley Park told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they support the plans and the impact it would have on the area, although some neighbours had concerns about extra traffic on matchdays. The club stated that two rounds of consultation found there is 'overwhelming support' for the vision.

Edgeley Park has been home to Stockport County since 1902, and is a key asset in the Edgeley neighbourhood. It provides a boost to local businesses, and the ground is used for community initiatives such as Stockport's warm spaces scheme.

Stockport council bought the stadium in 2015, and recently agreed a 250-year lease for Stockport County to remain at Edgeley Park.

Ken Knott, non-executive chairman at Stockport County, said: ‘‘This is a very exciting time for the club as we continue to go from strength-to-strength, both on and off the field, ending the year as EFL League Two champions and achieving promotion into EFL League One.

"We have outlined our ambition to reach the Championship and have already taken great strides towards reaching this goal, but ultimately, we believe that the expansion and enhancement of Edgeley Park is crucial to support the continued growth of the club and providing a platform for future success.

“As such, we are delighted to submit plans for the expansion and enhancement of Edgeley Park, helping to create a true community stadium.

"The ground means a great deal to the fans and the local community, and we want to ensure that the stadium matches our level of ambition so it can continue to provide a first-rate home for the club and the local community for many years to come.”