Decision on Bath Rugby"s temporary expansion plans delayed

Comments (0)

Councillors decided to delay making a decision on the plans to temporarily expand Bath Rugby’s stadium at the Rec because they needed more time to look through the hundreds of consultation comments. 

Members of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s development control committee met yesterday afternoon to consider the planning application submitted by the club. 

However, after looking through the plans and listening to representations from those both opposed to and in favour of the scheme, councillors voted against making a decision yesterday. 

Councillor Manda Rigby (Lib Dem, Abbey) suggested that the matter be deferred until the next planning meeting at the end of July, because the consultation had only closed last week and members needed more time to read through the hundreds of comments. 

This was agreed by the rest of the committee. 

The scheme will now be back before councillors on July 30. 

Bath Rugby chief executive Nick Blofeld said he was disappointed by the outcome.

He said: “We are clearly very disappointed that BNES development control committee has chosen to delay the decision for our temporary application proposal. 

“This presents us with significant operational challenges to be ready for the start of the season, however, we will of course work hard with BNES to assist them in coming to a positive decision, and still hope to increase our capacity during the period of our 150th anniversary.”

Bath Rugby had hoped to have its new stadium completed in time for its 150th anniversary next year. 

However, due to the complication of a charity tribunal rejecting an attempt to give the club extra space on the Rec, it is instead looking for a temporary capacity boost for the milestone. 

The proposal would raise capacity from just over 12,000 to 14,000 and would cover the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. 

It includes five additional rows to the East Stand, an extra seated tier on the North Stand, as well as additional first and second floor boxes on the South Stand. 

The plans have been recommended for approval by officers.

Incoming search terms:

• yhs-fullyhosted_003


• rugby college rugby


• rugby college uk


• rugby college england


• yhs-default


• rugby universities


• rugby college UK summer


• college rugby


• rugby collage


• englandrugby college

Decision on Bath Rugby"s temporary expansion plans delayed