Stadium for Bath reveal updated design

Following extensive consultation with residents and representatives of the City regarding its proposals to regenerate the riverside between Pulteney Bridge and North Parade and create a new, world-class community and sporting stadium at the Rec; Stadium for Bath has announced final revisions to the detailed design stage, ahead of a planning submission.

The key design changes include:

• Overall height reduction of 5.1m
• 550 space car park providing blueprint for electric vehicle usage in the city
• Mature trees retained along riverside with enhanced public realm design
• Enhancement to West, East and North stands which maintain views to local landmarks
• State-of-the-art hybrid playing surface for year-round use

Throughout the process the project team have sought feedback from a broad range of stakeholders regarding this unique project including local residents close to the Rec. In particular, the team have consulted extensively with B&NES officers, Historic England and the Environment Agency along with other statutory stakeholders and Bath Preservation Trust.

If given permission, the new 18,000-capacity stadium will not only retain Premiership Rugby in the heart of the City but provide huge economic and citywide benefits. The development will also create hundreds of new jobs in construction, operations and hospitality and offer a multi-million pound boost to the city’s economy per annum through visitor spending.

It is hoped that the revised planning permission will be made early in the New Year.

Tarquin McDonald, Bath Rugby Chief Executive commented: 

For 125 years we have played our rugby at the Rec. This project is about the next 125 years and beyond. Keeping sport in the heart of the city is the catalyst for this project, but we are also incredibly proud of the opportunity to regenerate the riverside creating an amazing place for everyone to enjoy; of the significant social legacy we will build through the delivery of education and employment programmes being run on the site every day of the year and of the opportunity to promote grass roots community sport.

 

We are passionate about the potential to support electric vehicle take-up in Bath; and of the significant boost Stadium for Bath will bring to our local economy. We have taken time to revisit and challenge every aspect of the design philosophy and to review how best to draw on Bath’s amazing architectural heritage – in particular its World Heritage Outstanding Universal Values – and we look forward to submitting a planning application which we hope will be early in the new year.

SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSPORT

Bath & North East Somerset Council are committed to reducing air pollution and congestion in the City, whilst continuing to support a thriving local economy. In order to achieve their objectives significant investment is required in traffic management measures, including electric vehicles.

Stadium for Bath will not increase parking spaces in the city, it will maintain city parking provision at current levels accounting for reductions at other sites such as Avon Street, with the benefit of reduced cross city traffic from spaces located nearer to the eastern approaches.

The concealed under-pitch car park located conveniently close to the city centre, yet outside the historic core will support the vitality of Bath’s economy, and the longer-term opportunity for pedestrianisation.

Importantly, the car park will include the infrastructure to promote the opportunity for growth in electric car ownership for Bath residents by more than doubling the daytime city centre electric vehicle charging provision. In addition, charge points will also be made available overnight for local residents such as those living in flats currently using on-street parking.

Stadium for Bath is also committed to providing extensive accessible spaces and provision for bicycles including shower and changing facilities for a dedicated cycling commuter club that will be launched when the stadium opens.

NEXT STEPS

Stadium for Bath intends to submit its Planning Application to Bath & North East Somerset Council early in the New Year. Once submitted, members of the public will be able to comment directly to the Council on the application.

For more information on the Stadium for Bath, click here.

Design & build team

Globally renowned firm Grimshaw is lead architect for the project, charged with realising the vision for a new community-focused stadium in the heart of Bath – a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The design aesthetic and stadium experience will be fundamental to the overall design solution. It is clear that the smart use of space at the site, the design of internal and operational spaces, and the landscape setting of the stadium will also be essential components of a successful design. Grimshaw has therefore appointed two further practices, Kay Elliott and Gross Max, as sub-contractors to provide further design expertise on this unique project.

Kay Elliott has been appointed Destination and Interiors Architect. Kay Elliott will have overarching responsibility for designing the internal look and feel of the new stadium. Internal areas include hospitality, player areas, bars and toilets, together with non-matchday uses such as conferencing and banqueting.

Gross Max has been appointed to lead on riverside design and the public realm to ensure that they are delivered to an exceptional standard befitting Bath.

Global engineering and design consultancy firm, Arup, will provide civil, geotechnical, structural, mechanical, electrical and public health engineering as well as ICT, audiovisual, acoustic and specialist lighting design for the new 18,000-seat, digitally-enabled stadium.

[1] Detailed Design Definition

This means that the size and scale of the building has been confirmed.

Mike Bohndiek, CEO of PTI Smarter Venues, is in charge of Technology, Infrastructure and Strategy on the Stadium for Bath project, as Consultant Chief Technology Officer. For further information on PTI Smarter Venues, a Sports Venue Business VIP Sponsor, simply click on the image below… 

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