Council backs plans for new Bath Rugby stadium

The redevelopment of The Rec would increase capacity from 14,500 to 18,000 seats

Councillors have backed plans for a brand new stadium for Bath Rugby.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (Banes) members voted 8-1 in favour of the creation of an 18,000-capacity ground at The Rec, home of the current Premiership champions.

More than 360 objections were submitted to the council over the plans, which are the latest in a series of proposals to modernise the stadium.

The vote does not mean planning permission can be granted however, as the council has to wait for "specific authorisation" from the government.

Liberal Democrat Toby Simons, who represents Bathwick where the stadium would be located, told the planning committee: "I see this as the only option to retain rugby in Bath."

But fellow Lib Dem John Leech, who voted against the redevelopment, said it will have an "impact on noise, litter and pollution".

Bath have played at the Rec for more than 130 years, but much of the stadium's capacity is held in a temporary stand which is usually dismantled during the off season.

Plans to modernise The Rec and improve facilities were initially submitted in 2018 but have been delayed by design changes and legal disputes.

Bath have been trying to redevelop the stadium for many years

More than 5,000 people wrote to Banes in favour of the new stadium during a public consultation period.

"Bath is a rugby city and the Rec is the club's home," said Bath Rugby fan and season ticket holder, Tom Dabinett.

"[The redevelopment] will not only provide a stadium but a facility for all, including the charitable arm of Bath Rugby - the Bath Rugby Foundation," he added.

Jasmine Ford previously worked for the Bath Rugby Foundation which does community and fundraising work.

"The Rec is a fantastic place to be," she said. "People have a good time and it's so close to the centre of Bath. The location of it means a great deal for local businesses."

But some people are concerned the new stadium will not be keeping with the rest of the city, which is a Unesco Heritage Site.

It would also be built on land bought by the City of Bath for its citizens in 1956.

Currently, the land is owned and operated by Bath Recreation Ltd, an independent charity. It's estimated the redevelopment will reduce the existing open area of the Recreation Ground by approximately 5,000m2.

'Eroded promises'

Film director Ken Loach, who lives in Bath, joined protesters earlier this month, calling on the council to scrap the proposals.

"I have nothing against Bath Rugby," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"But the land was promised as an open green space in perpetuity for all visitors of Bath to enjoy at their leisure. Over the years that promise has been eroded, bit by bit."

Rob Groves, who lives close to the stadium, told the BBC he is worried about the ground being used for events such as concerts.

"They [Bath Rugby] had the victory parade and they came back to the Rec and played music on the pitch and our windows rattled," said Mr Groves.

"If we have a full band in there, that you can hear across the city, what's it going to be like?"

The redevelopment of the Rec will now need to be approved by Secretary of State Steve Reed.

It follows a letter from the government which directed BANES council to seek final government approval due to the sensitivity of Bath's historic aesthetic.

The BBC has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a statement.