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Copthall plans cleared by Secretary of State
The Secretary of State has given the all clear for Barnet Council to issue planning permission for Saracens’ revival of Copthall Stadium. The Planning and Environment Committee of Barnet Council approved the plans on 2 February this year and the Mayor subsequently confirmed that he did not wish to intervene. The sign off from the Secretary of State was the last hurdle before planning permission could be issued.
Reacting to the news, Nigel Wray, chairman of Saracens said:
“We are obviously delighted that the Secretary of State has confirmed that our planning application can be determined at local level, in line with the spirit of localism. We now hope that the formal decision will be issued by Barnet Council over the coming days.”
“The comprehensive sporting and community benefits of our proposals have been recognised at every stage of the decision making process. We will create a vibrant sports hub for the local community, offering great facilities free of charge for local schools. We will also provide a hugely improved athletics venue for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and make a real home for Saracens.”
“We have engaged with local residents throughout the life of this project and we will continue to do so as we move forward. We want to provide a facility that the whole community can be proud of.”
The stadium, currently home to Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, is proposed to become an international level athletics venue as well as being an outstanding community sports hub and Premiership rugby ground.
The scheme will refurbish and improve an existing sports venue, whilst keeping essentially the same footprint. Our team and supporters will only be at Barnet Copthall for up to 16 days per year, with the planned all-weather pitch being available to local clubs and schools throughout the year.
“We have put forward a really exciting plan to create a unique community sports hub in the heart of north London, offering fantastic lasting benefits to tens of thousands of people, and minimising disruption to residents.”
Nigel Wray, Saracens Chairman
COPTHALL REVIVAL….APPROVED!
The revised proposals by Saracens RFC to transform Barnet Copthall Stadium following were unanimously approved by the Planning and Environment Committee of Barnet Council on 2 February 2012. The plans have also now be cleared by the Mayor of London and Secretary of State.
The vision is to create a vibrant multi-purpose sports venue which will deliver a lasting sporting legacy for the local community.
The original planning application was submitted to Barnet Council in March 2011 and a revised application followed later in the year.
The key elements of the revised scheme are:
• A transport plan that reduces the percentage of supporters travelling by car to 36%
• A match-day coach service from the Hertfordshire towns, offering seamless services on six routes to and from Copthall
• A regular double-decker match-day shuttle service on the 221 route, connecting Edgware, Mill Hill Broadway and Mill Hill East stations to the stadium
• The provision of various match day parking schemes, to be determined by local residents
• A modified design, featuring wood, trees and greenery, softening the visual impact of the new East stand
• An integrated management plan, ensuring the refurbished stadium serves as a catalyst for more effective use of the entire Copthall site
A vibrant community sports hub…
There has been an excellent response to the proposals from the Barnet community, with many people recognising the benefits that would be delivered through the project including the introduction of the Saracens Foundation which has a huge outreach and positive impact on the lives of young people.