Decision to be sent to secretary of state for review
Kay Elliott’s plans for a new rugby stadium in the centre of Bath have been backed by the local council after the scheme was put on ice by the secretary of state.
Former housing secretary Angela Rayner issued an Article 31 notice at the end of last month preventing Bath and North East Somerset council from making a decision on the application.
The scheme for Bath Rugby would see the site’s existing clubhouse demolished and replaced by a new 18,000-seat stadium which would retain the existing south stand while building new north, east and west stands.
But the replacement of the existing buildings and recreation ground has been beset by multiple planning wrangles over the last 15 years due to the site’s location in the centre of the historic city’s two world heritage sites.
Kay Elliot’s current proposals, submitted in 2023, replace two former designs for the scheme, the first by Wilkinson Eyre in 2013 and the second by Grimshaw in 2018, both of which failed to get as far as planning submission stage.
ICOMOS, UNESCO’s heritage watchdog, said the scheme as originally submitted would “pose a serious threat” to the world heritage sites and cause adverse effects which would be “neither limited nor compensable”.
However, the body withdrew its objection following a series of amendments in 2024 and 2025 which have reduced the scheme’s height and marginally reduced the stadium’s proposed capacity.
Historic England has also backed the latest plans, describing them as a “successful result of many years of negotiations” and welcoming the replacement of the existing ground, which it said was an “eyesore”.
The council voted to approve the plans at a committee meeting yesterday. The decision will now be reviewed by new secretary of state Steve Reed, who replaced Rayner earlier this month.
Bath Rugby chief executive Tarquin McDonald said the decision was a “landmark moment” for the city.
He said: “It enables us to move forward with delivering a stadium that will transform the matchday experience for fans, provide world-class facilities for women’s rugby and schools, and create a venue with year-round community use.
“Importantly, the design regenerates the riverside, protects views of our beautiful city, and incorporates significant sustainability measures.”
The project team includes landscape architect BD Landscape Architects, structural engineer OPS Structures Limited, building services engineer Arup, planning consultant Turley and project manager Stace.
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