Planning permission for Saracens Rugby’s proposed transformation of Barnet Copthall stadium in Hertfordshire into a state of the art 10,000 seat multi-use rugby, athletics and community sports stadium has been granted this month. The 1960s athletics stadium, which lies in the Green Belt, is currently used by local clubs including Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.
As part of the project team, we have coordinated the Environmental Statement for the planning application, carried out landscape and ecology surveys and prepared landscape designs for the development proposal.
The multi-use stadium will have a new artificial pitch, the first of its kind in English rugby, and will be the Premiership champions’ new home ground, hosting up to 16 Saracens matches a year. The development includes refurbishment of the stadium’s main building, construction of a new stand and installation of demountable stands. The existing large overflow car park will be transformed into a public green area for informal recreation. These proposals will also revitalise and secure the future of the stadium for athletics events, meetings and training, and it will be open for local sports clubs, schools and community use on non-rugby match days.