An artist's impression of how a re-developed Copthall Stadium would look if Saracens' planning application is successful © Saracens.com

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Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Saracens

Saracens have submitted plans to turn Barnet's Copthall Stadium into a 10,000-capacity multi-sports venue.

The Aviva Premiership club's blueprint, lodged with the London Borough of Barnet, includes siting of an artificial pitch as key to what they view as establishing a multi-purpose community sports venue. The refurbished stadium will be used for athletics, rugby and community sport, and could also be an Olympic training venue.

"Our proposal is, we hope, really great news for everyone in north London," commented Saracens chairman Nigel Wray. "The artificial turf pitch will create something absolutely unique in England - a well-known top class stadium available for use by local schools and clubs 350 days per year for matches, for sports days. It will be a real community asset.

"The award-winning Saracens Foundation will be based at the stadium, working in the Barnet community, creating 'Teams not Gangs,' improving the quality of life and creating opportunities for young people."

Saracens, who currently play their home games at Vicarage Road in Watford, plan to stage no more than 16 days of Premiership rugby at Copthall. The stadium would incorporate demountable stands on three sides. The facility, meanwhile, would also continue to be home for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers athletics club.

The club's current landlords at Vicarage Road, Watford Football Club, issued a break clause in their agreement in 2010 that triggered the end of a 14-year partnership and put the move to Copthall Stadium in motion.

Saracens have developed a comprehensive match day traffic and parking plan, incorporating satellite car parks and 200 match day stewards, to avoid disruption for residents. Public consultations have also been running since November last year and will continue while the application is being processed. And the club's community engagement teams, including players, have been walking door to door, explaining the club's plans to residents.