Planning application to improve Saracens’ Allianz Park approved

Saracens have confirmed this week that their planning application to improve Allianz Park has now been approved by Barnet Council.

A statement on the club’s website reads:

We are pleased to announce that our planning application to improve Allianz Park has now been approved by Barnet Council. The main element of the application is the replacement of the ageing West Stand with a new, modern stand which would consolidate and enhance the provision of community, education and sporting facilities at the stadium. This decision and the overwhelmingly positive response to the public consultation process reflects the important role that Allianz Park already plays in the community.

Allianz Park, as a multi-use community stadium, has become an essential hub of community, education and sporting activity in Barnet and North London. The new stand provides the opportunity to build on this success with improved facilities for all sport users, as well as additional space for Middlesex University’s London Sports Institute.

The improvements will enhance facilities to support and grow Saracens’ charitable arm, the Saracens Sports Foundation, which will help to further develop its award winning community programming which uses sport to improve the lives of some of our communities most disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Chief Executive of Saracens, Heath Harvey, said:

We are naturally delighted with the decision made by Barnet Council. Our planning application was incredibly thorough and considered all the feedback we had received in the months leading up to today. We will continue to work as an active part of the local community, working in partnership as we continue to improve Allianz Park and maximise its positive impact on our community. We now look forward to the next stage of this exciting process.

The new stand would provide a much improved environment for stadium users and spectators with a maximum permanent capacity of 10,500 (currently 10,000).

The plans will also include a proposal for one of the 16 Saracens home matches to accommodate a one-off annual game (such as a European Rugby Champions Cup quarter final) at Allianz Park. This would enable the capacity of the stadium to be temporarily increased to 15,000 for a maximum of one match a year.

As Allianz Park is situated within the Green Belt, the application will now be referred to the Greater London Authority and hopefully approved by the Mayor in the near future.

It is anticipated that work on improving Allianz Park would begin later this year and be completed by late 2018.

The key features of the new proposed West Stand would include:

• Improved training and competition facilities for all sports users including athletics, rugby and community sport.
• Further space for Middlesex University’s Sport and Exercise Science Department, along with new health and wellbeing facilities.
• Enhanced facilities to support Saracens charitable arm, the Saracens Sports Foundation, to further develop its award-winning community programme.
• A much better environment for stadium users and spectators, including vastly improved disabled access and facilities.

See more online at: http://www.saracens.com/news-article/planning-application-to-improve-allianz-park-approved-by-barnet-council#sthash.8mZ31Nn6.RGASFGZ4.dpuf

Images, courtesy: Saracens

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