Bath Rugby’s New Stadium Update
Bath Rugby has provided an update on the club’s new stadium project, almost a year from when it put the scheme on hold. In May 2020 work on the ‘Stadium for Bath’ was paused in response to the uncertainty created by the COVID‑19 outbreak.
Plans for the 18,000-seat stadium were expected to be submitted last year with a targeted a completion date of summer 2022. This latest update shows that the club’s original inclusion of a public car park underneath the new stadium has been scrapped.
Bath has previously claimed the 550-space car park was a ‘key part of its development plans’, protecting the riverside pitch from flooding and aiding the financial sustainability of the project. However, critics had questioned how this could be delivered inside the city’s new clean air zone after the local council had declared a climate emergency.
Bath Rugby announced:
“The raising of the pitch in previous designs created the space for a public car park much like the adjacent parking under the Leisure Centre, with the provision of parking at the Recreation Ground compensating for the loss of other city-centre parking sites allocated for development and contributing to the financial sustainability of the development.
“During this period of reflection we have identified a satisfactory design solution to mitigate long-term challenges relating to flood risks and the water table which do not require the full raising of the pitch.
“The world has changed over the course of the pandemic. We no longer believe it is appropriate to base the sustainability of the stadium and the club on car parking. We will therefore not be including an under-pitch car park in future proposals for redevelopment at the Recreation Ground.”
The ‘Stadium for Bath’ is due to be built on the same site as the Recreation Ground, which has been the club’s home since 1894. The ‘Rec’ as it is known, has featured temporary stands for the last 15 years providing capacity up to 14,500, and each year the club must reapply for permission to retain them.
Plans for the new stadium were first discussed in 2017, and Bath has faced the significant challenge of delivering a venue in what is a World Heritage Site. In October, Bath’s ambitious plans suffered a legal blow after a ruling from Bristol High Court on a historic restrictive covenant on the land.
The judge ruled against the club’s lawyers who had legally challenged a historic covenant blocking development of the current Rec site if there would be ‘nuisance’ caused. Bath Rugby’s legal team claim that the covenant is “unenforceable” and therefore invalid.
Bath Rugby have said:
“In terms of next steps, the club has been granted leave on all grounds of appeal in relation to a recent judgment regarding the 1922 Covenants. Bath Recreation Limited, our landlord, has also been granted permission to join the appeal proceedings.
“A successful appeal is important for Bath Recreation Limited’s future as operations could be impacted in relation to hosting events, and in other matters such as the future of the Leisure Centre. The appeal hearing is due to be heard in Autumn 2021.
“In the meantime, the club will continue to operate its temporary stadium facilities at the Recreation Ground. The constraints at the site are unique in professional elite sport and operating the temporary stadium facilities costs the club c. £1m per annum in incremental operating costs.
“Our commitment to the city and to the contribution we can make through playing rugby at the Rec is undiminished. We will continue to consider solutions for an appropriate design at the Rec, which must also be financially sustainable over the long-term. The appeal hearing in the Autumn is an important next step on the journey.”
