Post by bluetornados on Oct 22, 2023 17:22:22 GMT
Hundreds support Bristol Rovers second South Stand planning application..By Tristan Cork Senior Reporter.
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Progress on the South Stand at the Memorial Stadium, in late September 2023, as seen in a screenshot from drone footage by CP Overview YouTube channel
Hundreds of people have written in to tell council planners they support the plans for a new stand at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium, as the club submits a second planning application to the city council. Almost 250 letters of support have been received by council planners in just the first week since Rovers’ new planning application was submitted, with 47 letters of objection submitted in the same time period.
Bristol Rovers’ has now submitted a second planning application for the new South Stand - the construction of which is already well underway - after withdrawing a first attempt made over the summer, which became something of a political football.
The club’s first application was held up in Bristol City Council ’s planning backlog, and then attracted hundreds of letters of objection from local residents - although the numbers of people writing in to support it outnumbered them three-to-one and almost reached 1,000 before the application was withdrawn. That withdrawal meant all of those letters of support and objection from residents of Bristol are disregarded, and only people writing in to express their views on the new planning application will be considered.
The first application met some criticism for not including detailed reports into travel plans, environmental impact and containing the barest of design illustrations. The application process itself became a political football after Labour council leaders controversially accused the Green Party of delaying the plan by calling it in to be decided by a committee of councillors. That had been pencilled in for this week, before the club withdrew the application. (article continues below...)
Rovers have now engaged planning consultants and agents BNP Paribas to present a full application to city planners, and the application includes a huge range of different reports - the kind that council officers had been asking the club for to be included in the first application, which was causing further delays.
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The proposed South Stand (pictured in background) now has a roof installed as it awaits planning permission (Picture: Dan Hargraves)
The second application now includes biodiversity metric tool, a report on the biodiversity net gain, a transport statement, travel plan, a contaminated land study, a noise impact assessment, groundsure reports, a statement on foul and drainage, a report into daylight, sunlight and overshadowing of the new stand, a statement of community involvement, a broadband connectivity statement, a tree constraints and opportunities report, an arboricultural impact assessment, an air quality assessment, a design access statement, a range of models, elevations and view images from various points around the stand, floor plans, site plans, an energy and sustainability statement and an overall planning statement.
Work on the stand has been progressing well, after Bristol Live reported that the club took the decision to build the new stand at the same time as applying for planning permission for it because with shortages and constraints in the construction industry, doing that would be the only way to create a chance for the club to be able accommodate fans in the new stand this season.
Bristol City Council then confirmed to Bristol Live that, as long as the work being done is within the scope of what has been applied for, there is nothing technically illegal about that, and council planners cannot stop them - albeit with the knowledge that, if planning permission is refused, the council could take enforcement action to make the club pull down the new stand.
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The South Stand ahead of Bristol Rovers' home fixture with Wigan Athletic on September 23rd
With a detailed planning application now submitted, the council’s planning officers will have to assess all the reports and the timescale on when a decision will be made is uncertain. With the backlog in the planning department ongoing, it could be months before a decision is made, but with council leaders publicly stating they are keen to see the application fast-tracked, it could, in theory, be brought before December’s planning committee, but is more likely to be decided in the New Year.
From there, Rovers will need to obtain the relevant safety certificates and conduct a series of test events before thousands of fans are allowed to take their places in the new stand. The club’s application explained that the new stand will restore and even slightly improve the Memorial Stadium’s overall capacity.
“The planning application seeks permission for the replacement of the existing South and South West stands with a new purpose designed structure. It also includes for the provision of additional toilet facilities and concession stalls,” the planning statement said. “The licenced capacity of the ground is currently 9,347. Prior to the 2018 application, the licenced capacity was 12,276 and after approval of that application the licenced capacity reduced to 11,818.
“In September 2022 the licenced capacity reduced further to 10,787 due to a review of the capacity of the terraces, the exclusion of the pitchside walkway from the capacity calculations. The licenced capacity of the new stand will be 3,414 seats with the provision of ten new wheelchair specific positions and companion chairs to the front of the new South Stand.
“The construction of the new stand will result in the closure of the far southern end of the east terrace due to obscured views, meaning that, on completion the licenced capacity of the ground will be 12,534. As such the licenced capacity will only be 285 higher than that which existed in 2018,” they added.
Rovers’ fresh application includes the addition of solar panels to the roof, and a programme of tree-planting too - something which many of the 250 or so people who have written in to support the application, have pointed out. “This is a very necessary construction to help bring the stadium into a fit for purpose facility,” one writer of a supporting letter said. “With the additional tree planting proposed, in the land behind and the solar panels on the roof, it will surely satisfy any environmental issues which may arise. I fully support the application and trust that the planning committee do likewise,” they added.
The inclusion of specific facilities for disabled fans has also been welcomed. “I believe in first class facilities for disabled supporters like myself and others,” one person supporting the application told council planners. “Also, the upgrading and addition of seating to help support and create local jobs. In over 50 years in supporting Bristol Rovers it has given me my family and many other people joy to have this football club and somewhere to meets friends on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy watching a game of football. As Bristol City has set a precedent extending and upgrading, then I believe so should the Memorial Stadium,” they added.
Of the 49 letters of objection so far, many express concern that the stand is already being built, while others said they were complaining about parking issues around the stadium on matchdays.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8117421.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_JMP_Bristol_Rovers_V_Exeter_City_WC-27.jpg
A general view of the South Stand at the Memorial Stadium, in February 2023
“There was no 'stand' there before this new structure was built without planning. There was a temporary structure more akin to a group of tents,” one objector told council planners. “To say that this is replacing a current stand is misleading and wrong and tries to portray a like for like swap out which this is most definitely not. I live in the area and when I walk past I cannot believe how much bigger the stand is than the tented structure that was previously there.
“The club have behaved incredibly unfairly towards the local residents - especially those in the immediate vicinity whose right to light has been hugely affected and whose view has also been negatively impacted. For the council to retrospectively agree this build would set a worrying precedent and would be hugely unfair on the local community.
“It would also send out the wrong message - that clubs can just ride roughshod over proper procedure. The club should be made to amend the structure so that it's at the previous height. Or remove it altogether and hold a proper consultation with the local residents about what is to be built. I strongly object to this application,” they added.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8787932.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_TCR_BRI280923SouthStandBRIJPG.jpg
Progress on the South Stand at the Memorial Stadium, in late September 2023, as seen in a screenshot from drone footage by CP Overview YouTube channel
Hundreds of people have written in to tell council planners they support the plans for a new stand at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium, as the club submits a second planning application to the city council. Almost 250 letters of support have been received by council planners in just the first week since Rovers’ new planning application was submitted, with 47 letters of objection submitted in the same time period.
Bristol Rovers’ has now submitted a second planning application for the new South Stand - the construction of which is already well underway - after withdrawing a first attempt made over the summer, which became something of a political football.
The club’s first application was held up in Bristol City Council ’s planning backlog, and then attracted hundreds of letters of objection from local residents - although the numbers of people writing in to support it outnumbered them three-to-one and almost reached 1,000 before the application was withdrawn. That withdrawal meant all of those letters of support and objection from residents of Bristol are disregarded, and only people writing in to express their views on the new planning application will be considered.
The first application met some criticism for not including detailed reports into travel plans, environmental impact and containing the barest of design illustrations. The application process itself became a political football after Labour council leaders controversially accused the Green Party of delaying the plan by calling it in to be decided by a committee of councillors. That had been pencilled in for this week, before the club withdrew the application. (article continues below...)
Rovers have now engaged planning consultants and agents BNP Paribas to present a full application to city planners, and the application includes a huge range of different reports - the kind that council officers had been asking the club for to be included in the first application, which was causing further delays.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/article8844146.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-19-at-200312jpeg.jpg
The proposed South Stand (pictured in background) now has a roof installed as it awaits planning permission (Picture: Dan Hargraves)
The second application now includes biodiversity metric tool, a report on the biodiversity net gain, a transport statement, travel plan, a contaminated land study, a noise impact assessment, groundsure reports, a statement on foul and drainage, a report into daylight, sunlight and overshadowing of the new stand, a statement of community involvement, a broadband connectivity statement, a tree constraints and opportunities report, an arboricultural impact assessment, an air quality assessment, a design access statement, a range of models, elevations and view images from various points around the stand, floor plans, site plans, an energy and sustainability statement and an overall planning statement.
Work on the stand has been progressing well, after Bristol Live reported that the club took the decision to build the new stand at the same time as applying for planning permission for it because with shortages and constraints in the construction industry, doing that would be the only way to create a chance for the club to be able accommodate fans in the new stand this season.
Bristol City Council then confirmed to Bristol Live that, as long as the work being done is within the scope of what has been applied for, there is nothing technically illegal about that, and council planners cannot stop them - albeit with the knowledge that, if planning permission is refused, the council could take enforcement action to make the club pull down the new stand.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8777934.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_South-Stand-Wigan.jpg
The South Stand ahead of Bristol Rovers' home fixture with Wigan Athletic on September 23rd
With a detailed planning application now submitted, the council’s planning officers will have to assess all the reports and the timescale on when a decision will be made is uncertain. With the backlog in the planning department ongoing, it could be months before a decision is made, but with council leaders publicly stating they are keen to see the application fast-tracked, it could, in theory, be brought before December’s planning committee, but is more likely to be decided in the New Year.
From there, Rovers will need to obtain the relevant safety certificates and conduct a series of test events before thousands of fans are allowed to take their places in the new stand. The club’s application explained that the new stand will restore and even slightly improve the Memorial Stadium’s overall capacity.
“The planning application seeks permission for the replacement of the existing South and South West stands with a new purpose designed structure. It also includes for the provision of additional toilet facilities and concession stalls,” the planning statement said. “The licenced capacity of the ground is currently 9,347. Prior to the 2018 application, the licenced capacity was 12,276 and after approval of that application the licenced capacity reduced to 11,818.
“In September 2022 the licenced capacity reduced further to 10,787 due to a review of the capacity of the terraces, the exclusion of the pitchside walkway from the capacity calculations. The licenced capacity of the new stand will be 3,414 seats with the provision of ten new wheelchair specific positions and companion chairs to the front of the new South Stand.
“The construction of the new stand will result in the closure of the far southern end of the east terrace due to obscured views, meaning that, on completion the licenced capacity of the ground will be 12,534. As such the licenced capacity will only be 285 higher than that which existed in 2018,” they added.
Rovers’ fresh application includes the addition of solar panels to the roof, and a programme of tree-planting too - something which many of the 250 or so people who have written in to support the application, have pointed out. “This is a very necessary construction to help bring the stadium into a fit for purpose facility,” one writer of a supporting letter said. “With the additional tree planting proposed, in the land behind and the solar panels on the roof, it will surely satisfy any environmental issues which may arise. I fully support the application and trust that the planning committee do likewise,” they added.
The inclusion of specific facilities for disabled fans has also been welcomed. “I believe in first class facilities for disabled supporters like myself and others,” one person supporting the application told council planners. “Also, the upgrading and addition of seating to help support and create local jobs. In over 50 years in supporting Bristol Rovers it has given me my family and many other people joy to have this football club and somewhere to meets friends on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy watching a game of football. As Bristol City has set a precedent extending and upgrading, then I believe so should the Memorial Stadium,” they added.
Of the 49 letters of objection so far, many express concern that the stand is already being built, while others said they were complaining about parking issues around the stadium on matchdays.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8117421.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_JMP_Bristol_Rovers_V_Exeter_City_WC-27.jpg
A general view of the South Stand at the Memorial Stadium, in February 2023
“There was no 'stand' there before this new structure was built without planning. There was a temporary structure more akin to a group of tents,” one objector told council planners. “To say that this is replacing a current stand is misleading and wrong and tries to portray a like for like swap out which this is most definitely not. I live in the area and when I walk past I cannot believe how much bigger the stand is than the tented structure that was previously there.
“The club have behaved incredibly unfairly towards the local residents - especially those in the immediate vicinity whose right to light has been hugely affected and whose view has also been negatively impacted. For the council to retrospectively agree this build would set a worrying precedent and would be hugely unfair on the local community.
“It would also send out the wrong message - that clubs can just ride roughshod over proper procedure. The club should be made to amend the structure so that it's at the previous height. Or remove it altogether and hold a proper consultation with the local residents about what is to be built. I strongly object to this application,” they added.
