Work on Northampton Town Football Club stadium starts

Capacity at Sixfields would increase to 10,000 people, with the revamp of the East Stand

The multimillion-pound redevelopment of a stand at Northampton Town Football Club's Sixfields Stadium has started.

The scheme, part-funded with a £12m loan from the borough council, will increase the capacity of the ground from 7,653 to 10,000.

A ceremony was held at the site to mark the start of work.

It was attended by council leader David Mackintosh, Northampton Town Football Club chairman David Cardoza and Simon Patnick, from developers County Group.

'Significant day'

The stadium is part of the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone which also includes a 100-room hotel and a conference centre.

Mr Mackintosh said: "This is a really significant day for Northampton Town Football Club and for Northampton.

"Increasingly success in professional sports is as much about what happens off the pitch as on it and the expansion of Sixfields Stadium and the surrounding area will help to regenerate the west of Northampton and develop the club.

"We are committed to supporting the Cobblers, and helping the club to take full advantage of the business opportunities of being located in our Enterprise Zone."