Fresh St James' Park expansion story emerges as Newcastle United complete feasibility study

Newcastle United are reportedly set to push ahead with plans to expand St James’ Park to a 60,000-seater stadium after completing an extensive feasibility study.

Last year, Newcastle called on some of the world's best to conduct a study to discover ways to increase the stadium's 52,000 capacity. There are a number of restrictions to expansion, including the Grade One listed buildings on Leazes Terrace, the stadium's proximity to the Leazes Conservation Area and major city-centre thoroughfares.

That had led to suggestions the Magpies could look to build a new stadium elsewhere but according to the Daily Telegraph, the club wish to proceed with expanding the current site after architects provided a range of options. That said, there is still some way to go with the blueprints for the expansion unlikely to be made public anytime soon.

Key figures within the football club have previously voiced their determination to remain at St James' Park. Speaking in January, CEO Darren Eales said: "St James’ Park is amazing, the location. We have all spoken about that on the record. It is part of what makes Newcastle United special. We are that cathedral on the hill. It is why we are doing the stadium feasibility to see what is possible.

"Genuinely, if we have got that ability to be able to stay in this location and to drive the revenues, and to drive capacity and to give what we’d love to, which is to give more fans the ability to watch Newcastle United that’s what we’d like to do.

"That’s why we’re doing the feasibility study. It’s not to second guess the process. We need to see what we can do and once we get that, we’ll be able to consult with fans and say okay, here’s are the options we’ve got, is this something we are all joined together and makes sense and the hope would be to stay at St James’ Park, if that’s possible.

"We have to be cognisant, we need to drive revenues and increase capacity and is that possible is the question we have put to the experts.”

The Telegraphs adds that before the redevelopment can begin, conversations between Newcastle and Newcastle City Council over the lease are set to take place. The lease currently has 70 years to run but United’s owners want to ensure long-term security over their multi-million investment.