National Trust raises concern over Bath Rugby arena design

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The National Trust has raised concerns over the design of Bath Rugby’s new arena at The Rec.

The club is fine-tuning its scheme for a 16,500-capacity stadium, and put artists’ impressions on display for the first time earlier this month.

But Britain’s biggest conservation charity – which owns land on its Bath Skyline route as well as Prior Park Landscape Gardens – says it is worried at the impact of the planned arena.

The club is preparing to submit a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council which it hopes balances its need to transform outdated facilities with the need to preserve key sightlines and blend in with a World Heritage city.

Trust general manager for Bath Wendy Stott said the charity accepted that the club needed better facilities, and supported its ambition to have a ‘stunning’ stadium.

“The National Trust owns a significant amount of land which contributes hugely to the green setting of the city. We believe it is crucial that views to and from this landscape are treasured and protected.

“Our concern around the current proposals as recently shown are the mass and height of the stadium, the materials it might be constructed from, and the final colour of the building and roof.

“All these elements of the structure, if not finely attuned to sit within a World Heritage Site setting, will clearly have a detrimental impact on important views to and from the surrounding landscape.”

She said the trust feared the roof of the west stand, alongside the river, would block views through to the wider landscape.

“It will also block the landscape and city views from within the ground – a lovely feature of this intimate city ground.

“Bath was originally designed with the views and green surrounding countryside very much in mind. There is a real opportunity not just to build another rugby stadium, but something stunning and unique which is truly in harmony with the setting of the city and the wider landscape.

“We are happy to lend our expertise to the design team to achieve a building which is not only fit for purpose but an exemplar of modern design sitting comfortably within its culturally rich surroundings.”

Ms Stott said the trust reserved its right to make further comments once an application had been submitted.

There has not yet been a comment from Bath Rugby.

The Bath Preservation Trust has also backed the principle of development, but expressed concerns about the west stand height, the impact on views and the colour of the roofs.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations has written to the rugby club asking a series of questions about roofing materials, the height of the west stand and east stand, the riverside walk and the nature of planned cafe facilities.

Article source: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/04/rugby-league-world-cup-samoa-papua-new-guinea

National Trust raises concern over Bath Rugby arena design