Proposals for the redevelopment of the Alexander stadium in Birmingham have been submitted to the city council’s planning department.

The stadium is set to be the focal point of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the athletics events.

At the heart of the wider effort to regenerate Perry Barr, the £70m plan would see the venue become a high-quality venue for diverse sporting, leisure, community and cultural events in the decades to come.

Among the plans submitted are proposals to increase the permanent seating capacity from 12,700 to 18,000. During the 2022 Games, temporary seating will be used to further increase the capacity to 30,000.

In legacy mode, the stadium will anchor an ambitious £500m investment project to completely regenerate Perry Barr – a project which includes new housing, improved transport and related upgrades to infrastructure and public space.

Sports tenants at the stadium will include the Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club and Birmingham City University.

"The application will now be considered by the planning department over the next few months and we welcome further feedback and comments from anyone with an interest in the stadium and its future," said Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council.

"This is about creating a destination venue, shaping a legacy beyond the Commonwealth Games."

It is anticipated a final decision will be take on the proposals by the city council’s Planning Committee in early 2020.

Subject to planning approval, construction of the new stand will commence in spring 2020, with completion in late 2021 ahead of test events for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.