Fratton Park redevelopment: Latest news on Portsmouth stadium renovation and Milton End stand

Portsmouth's Fratton Park has undergone significant work in recent years to bring it up to modern-day standards. The club announced in August 2020 that they had received planning permission for the development of the Milton End. In 2021, Pompey then outlined their plans to conduct a complete multi-million-pound redevelopment of their iconic ground.

Work has taken place in all four stands, the Fratton End, North Stand, South Stand and Milton End, with the latter continuing to operate as the away end in Fratton Park.

Here, we look at how the work has transformed Fratton Park and whether there are any future plans for further development.

What has happened at Fratton Park?

Over recent years, Fratton Park has undergone several work periods, some aimed merely at keeping the ground operational. Football has been played at Fratton Park since 1899, but little has been done to upgrade the infrastructure since Portsmouth's relegation from the Premier League in 2010, making renovations urgently needed.

A few years ago, Portsmouth CEO Andrew Cullen stated that the club needed to install new cladding to meet fire regulations to avoid being “completely closed down.”

In 2020, Portsmouth submitted plans to extend the Milton End stand at Fratton Park, which included adding 400 seats and improving spectator facilities. The plans also proposed extending the roof backwards to provide cover for spectators, both inside and outside the stadium, as well as creating a new viewing area for disabled fans.

These enhancements were essential not only for improving the fan experience but also because the stadium's capacity was continuously being reduced due to safety regulations.

“It had reached a point where it was likely capacity would fall as low as 10,000,” said Cullen.

In June 2021, Portsmouth announced that the Fratton Park redevelopment would begin with an expected completion time of four seasons and would cost £10m.

Over the summer of 2023, seats in the Milton End were ripped out to make way for the renovation, which includes connecting this stand to the adjacent North Stand.

In September 2023, rail seating was successfully installed in the back ten rows of the Fratton End, allowing the club to apply for a safe-standing licence from the Sports Ground Safety Authority. This followed the previous installation of rail seats as part of the ongoing Milton End redevelopment.

Fratton Park development in detail

Pompey's home ground is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment aimed at enhancing both the venue's capacity and its overall aesthetic appeal. Originally budgeted at £12 million, the cost of the project has now exceeded £15 million, reflecting the complexity and scale of the improvements.

This redevelopment marks a significant milestone in Portsmouth's history, particularly for a stadium whose capacity has diminished over time due to ageing infrastructure. The renovations are designed to modernise the facility and restore its place as a vibrant hub for fans and the community.

The North Stand and the Milton End have undergone significant redevelopment, although the work has also extended to other parts of Portsmouth's iconic stadium.

However, the work has also extended to other parts of the stadium that were in dire need of refurbishment. The club made the decision to remove the ‘hanging basket' section in the South Stand,  which led to a small reduction in capacity in that area of the ground. As a result of the work, the historic stand has been transformed into one continuous tier. As per the club's official website, the changes have ‘improved sightlines' and ‘increased concourse space for home supporters.

The South Stand also used to house a date gantry that could only be accessed by a ladder. A new television gantry has now been constructed on the roof, offering greater space and accessibility to those who need to use the facility for their work.

Other significant areas receiving attention include the Victory Lounge. A space intended for socialising and hospitality, and the ongoing upgrades to the North Stand, which will provide supporters with improved seating and amenities. Overall, the redevelopment is set to breathe new life into the stadium, ensuring it not only meets modern standards but also preserves the rich legacy of Portsmouth Football Club.

While Portsmouth may have upgraded all areas of the ground, Cullen has admitted that the North Stand is the only stand that can be expanded to increase the capacity of the stadium.

As per The News, Cullen said: “To get the volume of seats we need, we would have to extend the North Stand. That is the way to increase capacity.

“We can’t do anything with the South Stand, because you are landlocked by houses behind. You can’t do anything behind the Milton End because you are again landlocked by houses, and there are other issues with infrastructure and residents.

“The North Stand needs space behind it. It’s an area you can build up and build back, which would give you extra capacity and is the obvious area to do.

“The Fratton End is difficult because there isn’t enough land behind it, while you need to ensure you still have space and an access route for emergency vehicles.

“Then there are the corners – and there is certainly scope to do something there. But it has to be cost-effective because of the amount of debt versus the investment required. It’s also not as strong as doing something properly in the North Stand.

“To make the North Stand work, however, it needs to be an enabling development, which is why the overall site is of such importance to this project.”

An increase to the North Stand would increase the capacity at Fratton Park to over 26,000, according to estimates.

History of Fratton Park

Fratton Park is more than 120 years old. It is the only professional English football ground not found on the mainland of Great Britain. Fratton Park is on Portsea Island, built in 1899 on the site of a market garden in Milton, a village on the island.

The ‘Fratton Park' name was used to link the ground to the nearby train station ‘Fratton'. In fact, the station and the ground weren't that close, but it encouraged supporters to attend.

Fratton Park's peak came in the 1930s, when, following two stand reconstructions, the capacity reached 58,000. This was reduced to 52,000 after safety regulations were introduced following the Burnden Park disaster (1946) at Bolton Wanderers.

The Portsmouth stadium was a host stadium for the 1948 London Olympics, and in the following season, Portsmouth won the Division One title and set a stadium record, with 51,385 watching their FA Cup sixth-round match against Derby County.