December 24, 2024
By Harry Mottram: Almost certainly the new stadium for Bath Rugby will get the thumbs up from planners in 2025 if the numerous changes to the original design are approved. Whether the planners at Bath and North East Somerset agree with all the proposals remains to be seen but the accepted wisdom is the plans will be approved – perhaps with further changes.
The club have now submitted an amended application following feedback from the planners, public and what are called ‘key stakeholders’ – and one hopes local businesses and residents whose lives and livelihoods are affected on match days.
In a statement the club said: “Bath Rugby is excited to announce that it has submitted amended plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium at The Rec, the club’s historic home since 1894.The amended application reflects valuable feedback from the public, key stakeholders, and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES), addressing technical points identified since the initial submission last year. A planning committee is targeted in the New Year.The new stadium design boasts significant improvements, including lowering the heights of the West and East Stands. These enhancements are not just aesthetic; they aim to elevate the matchday experience while preserving the unique character of the surrounding area.”
Using the phrase the ‘new stadium design boasts significant improvements’ won’t wash with everyone as those who mourn the loss of around a quarter of the city’s Recreation Ground to professional rugby union will feel it is a betrayal of the original agreement that the Rec should be open to all sports. Some have charged Bath Rugby of sexism as primarily the sport is for men which excludes most women and most other sports. Bath Rugby now hosts a women’s team and their charitable trust works with children of all ages and people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The main grouch is over the East Stand which will be permanent – having been put away for the summer at the end of each season opening up the rugby ground to all – although this did not happen this year.
There is also the issue of the design which has been modified – in part due to the intervention of two Bath architects Mark Wilson Jones and Jakub Ryng of Apollodorus Architecture who reimagined the new stadium as a oval Roman colosseum, (pictured) together with a classical rebuild of the leisure centre. This seemed to be a perfect design as it addressed the problem of the leisure centre being cut off from the Rec. However there is little doubt it would have cost far more to achieve than the club’s preferred and more modest design – and the club quickly dismissed the idea.
“This submission is another important milestone for the club and the city. We’ve listened closely to the community and our stakeholders, as well as the numerous statutory consultees that are invited to comment on planning applications, and we are committed to delivering a stadium that not only meets the needs of our fans but also respects the rich heritage of Bath,” said Tarquin McDonald, Chief Executive of Bath Rugby, “The amended submission showcases an exciting vision for the future, with significant public benefits that will positively contribute to the entire community. We now look forward to the Council bringing the proposals to a planning committee in the New Year.”
While Bath Rugby in terms of current form is on a high sitting on top of the league table there are wider problems for professional rugby union. Compared to football clubs who play far more games with smaller squads and fewer injuries rugby clubs are in financial difficulties without the boost from TV and internationals. With the RFU’s stipulation that grounds must hold 10,000 spectators to be allowed in the top flight – which makes promotion from the Championship impossible for nearly all lower league clubs – all clubs are under pressure to professionalise their grounds and their offer to the paying public. Coupled with several clubs at the top going bust like Worcester and Wasps the sport at a professional level is close to crisis point financially. Which is why hospitality and merchandise is so vital to clubs like Bath as it’s an important revenue stream – and with an enhanced stadium design they will be hoping improved hospitality for the 18,000 spectators will keep the club solvent.
For fans, the upgrade can’t come soon enough – and despite the opposition to the new design – there is no doubt that the club remains highly popular in the city and across a wider region.
These words are from the club:
Key benefits of the new stadium design include:
• A new curved roof form which reduces the heights, resulting in increased views of the city and surrounding hills
• Enhanced landscaping to the river
• Redesign of East and West Stand facades
• Re-engineered and enhanced seating bowl
The resubmitted plans still retain all the key benefits included in the original application from 2023:
• 18,000 capacity stadium with significantly enhanced accessibility provisions
• Contemporary and sensitive design
• Significantly increased community use with new stadium facilities
• Regenerated riverside including the new Spring Gardens Walk
• Retention of mature trees, as well as further landscaping and bio-diversity measures
• A host of sustainability measures to support a target of net zero operational carbon
• Riverside café/restaurant, Club shop and museum for non-matchday use
The amended plans which have been submitted will be publicly available on the B&NES Council planning portal in the New Year. The club will confirm once the amendments have gone live so members of the public can comment on the plans.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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