Sunderland's hopes of expanding the Stadium of Light in the future are under threat due to housing plans in the local area.
According to reports in the national media, Sunderland City Council are going to submit plans this week for 600 new apartments and townhouses in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, specifically behind the South Stand.
/https%3A%2F%2Ffootballgroundguide.com%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F08%2Fstadium-of-light-appeal.jpg "Sunderland face potential impact to future Stadium of Light expansion 1")
Sunderland to lodge housing appeal
In light of the news of the potential new housing development next to the Stadium of Light, Sunderland are expected to lodge a formal appeal to stop the work from being approved.
As the new apartments and townhouses would be within 23 metres of the South Stand, the club feel that it effectively means they will never be able to expand the stadium, something they have long had aspirations to do.
When the stadium was first built in the 1990s, it was designed in such a way that future expansion work up to 84,000 could be easily achieved. However, that was before there was any suggestion of a housing development being erected on the site.
In recent years, the club have submitted a pre-planning application for the redevelopment of the South Stand, but the council are adamant that the new housing plans won't impact these plans or any future expansion.
Sunderland chairman responds to council plans
After confirming that Sunderland will contest the plan, the club's Chairman, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, said:
“Unfortunately, Sunderland City Council has recently taken steps relating to the Sheepfolds development that could have catastrophic operational consequences on our club and, by extension, our community.
“We are under no illusion that the city needs more appropriate housing provision and support those endeavours fully.
“However, later this week we will be submitting a formal objection against the proposals relating to the Sheepfolds, and I encourage all city stakeholders to come together and join us in protecting the future of our football club and the city of Sunderland.”
FGG says: Is an expansion necessary?
The Stadium of Light currently has a capacity of nearly 49,000, and for a club the size of Sunderland, this is more than enough. This isn't just my opinion, but logic with factual evidence. Over the past ten seasons, they have only had an average attendance of more than 40,000 in two seasons. Housing development or not, any talk of a Stadium of Light expansion is fantasy.