Bath Rugby submits amended plans for new stadium

Premiership club Bath Rugby has submitted amended plans for a new stadium on the site of its current home, the Recreation Ground.

The amended application has been submitted on the back of “valuable feedback” from the public, key stakeholders, and Bath & North East Somerset Council, addressing technical points identified since the initial submission last year. A planning committee is targeted in the New Year.

The new stadium design features “significant” improvements, including lowering the heights of the West and East Stands.

Other aspects of the amended design include a new curved roof form, enhanced landscaping to the river, a redesign of the East and West Stand facades, and a re-engineered and enhanced seating bowl.

The resubmitted plans will retain key benefits included in the original application from 2023, which centred on an 18,000-capacity stadium with significantly enhanced accessibility provisions, a new Spring Gardens Walk and a host of sustainability measures.

The amended plans will be publicly available on the Council’s planning portal in the New Year.

Tarquin McDonald, chief executive of Bath Rugby, said: “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.

“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.”

Last year’s planning application was submitted after Bath Rugby had earlier unveiled revised plans for the stadium. The project proposes a year-round venue that will sit alongside a redeveloped, more open and well maintained riverside.

The plans for a new stadium were first discussed in 2017 but the project was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bath is currently top of the Premiership table after eight games of the season.