Bath Rugby’s ambitious plan to build a new stadium in the heart of Bath has received a significant boost after the Government declined to call in the planning application, allowing the local council to proceed with granting full approval.
Last week, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee backed the stadium proposal but was advised to await specific authorization from the Secretary of State before finalizing permission. Today, Bath Rugby announced that the Secretary of State has opted not to intervene, clearing the way for the project to move forward.
With this decision, the council’s support stands firm, enabling it to officially issue planning permission and set the project in motion. Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald expressed his excitement: “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.”
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The planned stadium, replacing temporary stands on the Recreation Ground, will boast an 18,000-seat capacity. Construction is expected to take three years, during which Bath Rugby will continue playing at the Recreation Ground.
The initial delay was caused by an “article 31 direction” issued on August 26 by the former Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, pending the government’s review. However, with Steve Reed now in the role following Rayner’s resignation amid a tax underpayment controversy, the decision has been finalized without government takeover.
The council committee vote on September 17 reflected strong support with nine councillors backing the stadium and only one dissenting. Public consultation saw overwhelming favor, with 5,086 submissions endorsing the plans compared to 368 objections. To manage the volume of feedback, planning officers employed AI to summarize responses efficiently.
During the meeting, McDonald highlighted the stadium’s benefits, including supporting the launch of a professional women’s rugby team and potential to host Women’s Rugby World Cup matches. He emphasized the extensive community engagement invested in developing the design, stating, “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 was filled with enthusiastic supporters clad in Bath Rugby colors, including former player and England international Jeremy Guscott. However, opposition remains notable, with acclaimed director Ken Loach among those protesting. Loach criticized the plan at a recent demonstration, calling the stadium “a travesty” for a green space gifted to the people of Bath in 1956.
Despite the objections, the government’s green light marks a pivotal moment for Bath Rugby’s development, promising a new era for the club and its fans in the heart of the city.