By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Bath Rugby’s new stadium in the middle of Bath is set to go ahead after the government decided not to call in the application.
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee had given the scheme their support last week, but had been told to wait for “specific authorisation” before granting planning permission so that the government could decide whether it wanted to call in the application and decide it itself. But today, Bath Rugby says it has been told by the Secretary of State that he would not call in the scheme.
It means that Bath and North East Somerset Council’s decision to support the granting of planning permission can stand, and the council can formally issue the planning permission.
Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald said: “We are thrilled to have received this news so swiftly. This is testament to the quality of our proposals which received no objections from any statutory consultees, including UNESCO World Heritage. We look forward to our planning application being formally approved and moving onto the next stage of detailed design. We will continue to keep our passionate and loyal supporters updated at every step of the journey.”
The plan will see the current temporary stands on the Recreation Ground replaced with a 18,000-seat stadium. Construction of the stadium would take three years. Bath Rugby would continue playing at the Recreation Ground during construction.
The letter telling the council to wait for authorisation, known as an “article 31 direction,” was sent on August 26 while Angela Rayner was the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government. But by the time the decision was made, she had been replaced by Steve Reed (pictured) after underpaying £40k of tax on her second home. The letter was issued by her officials under delegated powers.
Nine councillors voted in favour of giving their backing to the planning permission when it came before the planning committee on September 17, with only one voting against. 5,086 people wrote to the council in support of the plans, while 368 people lodged objections. So great was the number of comments the council received that planning officers decided to use AI to summarise them rather than read them all.
Mr McDonald told the planning committee at the meeting: “This new stadium would support us in launching a professional women’s team — and would have enabled us to host Women’s Rugby World Cup matches this year. We have undertaken thousands of hours of consultation […] We have evolved and refined the design over years, taking on board everyone’s feedback.”
The council chamber looked overwhelmingly blue and black as the council considered the plans, as supporters dressed in Bath Rugby shirts watched proceedings. Former Bath Rugby player and England international Jeremy Guscott was also spotted in the council chamber watching the committee.
But the plan also has high profile objectors. Ken Loach, the “Kes” and “I, Daniel Blake” director who lives in Bath, has lodged objections to the plan and joined a protest against the scheme earlier this month. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the protest, he said: “Bath Recreation Ground was a gift to the people of Bath in 1956 and it should be an open green space forever […] A mini Wembley Stadium in the middle of these Georgian houses is a travesty.”
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