WORCESTER Warriors co-owner Jed McCrory has revealed plans to increase capacity to 16,500 at Sixways with the construction of a new two-tier stand.

McCrory said he had held “very positive” talks with Wychavon District Council over the possibility of building a new North Stand and would submit initial drawings within a fortnight.

The plans are set to feature seating for supporters as well as a row of executive boxes on the upper tier while the lower section would be entirely standing.

The proposal would also open up space for a bigger fans’ zone and “classroom-type facilities for sports education”.

Wychavon backed an application for a new North Stand, replacing the current temporary structure, in April 2007 only for the permission to lapse three years later.

But since leading a consortium to take over the Premiership club in October last year, McCrory has been revisiting the quest to expand Worcester’s 11,499-capacity home.

“I have been talking to various departments at the council since I have been here,” McCrory said.

“I have been around schools myself and speaking to the council about building a North Stand. The verbal conversations were very positive. The council were very supportive of the club, the community and projects we want to put together.”

Once the drawings have been issued McCrory said the club would receive a report back from officers within 28 days containing suggestions to increase their chances of receiving full planning permission.

“They will give us an advisory note on what we can do and what we can’t do and they will guide us which way to go forward,” McCrory said.

“We then take their notes, put it together properly and apply for full planning.

“You see some sports clubs fail with planning applications because they have not done pre-planning and not engaged with the council so they don’t know what the requirements are to get it done.

“Although it might seem a bit slow to start with you will see that it is the right way to go forward.

“It is a cost-effective way of doing it and builds relationships between the club, the community and the council.”

Morecambe FC owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham jointly run Warriors with McCrory who has previously been chairman of Swindon Town.

McCrory also dismissed speculation over houses and flats being built on the Sixways site as “ not true” and insisted plans were based on “sports education”.

“I am here as I want to drive community projects and sport so building this stand will achieve the 16,500 that the club wanted,” McCrory said.

“It will add better facilities for the club and we will have more space to hold more events.

“It will open up classroom-type facilities for sports education and also aids the commercial revenues.

"We will have a bigger fans’ zone so there will be more to do for the kids before the game.

"That will be engaging for the youth, community and family which is the key driver for us.

“I am not interested in hotel beds. I want this driven for the community and the kids.

“I will be going 100 miles-per-hour to get this over the line.”

McCrory said local businesses would be used as part of the development and that he aimed to continue to reach out to communities, schools, amateur clubs and councils.

“Everyone has been really receptive to us and I have been to a lot of places,” McCrory said.

“I have been to 200 venues within Worcestershire and been across to Warwick, Chester, Oswestry and Hereford.

“I have covered the whole DPP (development player programme) area and am still doing so because we want to engage.”