By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Bath and North East Somerset Council has given its backing to plans to build a stadium in the centre of Bath.
Bath Rugby’s long held ambition to build a permanent 18,000-seat stadium on the Recreation Ground has cleared a major hurdle after the council’s planning committee voted 8-1 to give its backing to the plans this afternoon. But planning permission has not yet been granted as the council needs to wait for “specific authorisation” from the government.
The new stadium would replace the “eyesore” temporary stands which Bath Rugby currently uses at the Recreation Ground. Toby Simon, planning committee member and Liberal Democrat councillor for Bathwick where the stadium would be located, said the stadium would be “good for Bath” and proposed the council back the plans.
He told the planning committee: “I see this as the only option to retain rugby in Bath. For me cities are places for people and activities and watching professional sport is very much a 21st century activity and it needs to be provided for in a city which has always provided for leisure activities and has had them at its core.”
Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour) added: “Georgian Bath was full of innovation and newness. So probably the Georgians today would be looking quite excitedly at these plans.”
But concerns were also raised about a host of issues throughout the meeting, from increased congestion, impact on views, to the loss of some trees. John Leach (Walcot, Liberal Democrat) said he could not support the plans, warning: “The accumulation of small harms is not outweighed by the possible benefits.”
The committee heard a statement from Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald, who said: “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.
He added that there were no objections to the scheme from statutory consultees, including UNESCO. The committee also heard statements from Bath Recreation Ltd — the charity which owns the Recreation Ground — and Bath Rugby Foundation, saying that income from the new stadium would create more money to fund recreation services in the city and create social value.
But the planning committee also heard that the plans would cause increased noise and parking issues for neighbours, affect the historic character of the city, and mean its nearest neighbour’s window would now look out onto a blank wall. Speaking for the Pulteney Estate Residents Association (PERA), Mark Reynolds told the meeting: “PERA is not opposed to an appropriate redevelopment of the Rugby stadium. But it must not be delivered at the expense of those residents who live closest to it.”
Manda Rigby, Mr Simon’s fellow Bathwick ward (also Liberal Democrat), said it could be “inappropriate development” and urged the committee to apply conditions to limit noise and transport issues if they wanted to approve the plans. Mr Simon said he agreed about the need for the conditions.
Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat) said: “Bath is rugby, as it is the Roman Baths, as it is the Royal Crescent. It has been there years as a use and I just think we should cement that use for good.”
Eight councillors voted in favour of giving their backing to the planning permission, with only Mr Leach voting against. The council will now advise the Secretary of State that it would like to grant planning permission, although it will have to wait for specific authorisation from the government before this can take effect.
The government has not yet called in the application, but has effectively reserved its right to. If the Secretary of State decides to call in the plans, a planning inspector will run an inquiry into whether the scheme should be approved.
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.
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.”
Construction of the stadium would take three years. Bath Rugby would continue playing at the Recreation Ground during construction.
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