Aviva Premiership
Sarries reveal revised stadium plans
ESPNscrum Staff
September 15, 2011
A general view of the Vicarage Road stadium, Saracens v Newcastle, Zurich Premiership, Vicarage Road, Watford, England, April 19, 1998
Saracens plan to move away from their Vicarage Road home © Getty Images
Enlarge

Saracens have revealed their revised blueprint for the redevelopment of the Barnet Copthall stadium.

Sarries have been in their Vicarage Road home since 1997 but hope to move to pastures new and submitted original plans for the redevelopment of their proposed new home in Barnet back in March. And following a six-month consultation period with residents, supporters, statutory bodies and other interested parties, they have submitted their revised plans to the London Borough of Barnet.

The main changes to the original blueprint include a new transport plan aiming to reduce the number of supporters travelling by car to 36% and a modified design aiming to improve the aesthetic values of the stadium which includes trees and general flower and fauna.

If the plans come to fruition, Saracens will share their home with the Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers athletics club. Three of the four stands will be dismountable and an artificial pitch will be laid.

Chairman of Saracens and Barnet resident Nigel Wray said: "We have listened and we have learned, and we are now putting forward an even better version of what I believe is a really exciting plan to create a unique community sports hub in the heart of north London, offering fantastic lasting benefits to tens of thousands of people, and minimising disruption to residents.

"Our basic concept remains the same - to invest in the creation of a compact, well-equipped stadium to be used for community sport on 340 days of the year, club and elite athletics and a maximum 16 days of Premiership rugby. These revisions relate to design, transport and enhancing leisure facilities, a key function of the Green Belt.

"We have consulted with many groups and organisations, among others the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, local schools and community organisations, and Mill Hill Preservation Society and we have hosted more than 15 public meetings throughout the borough.

"The revisions to the plans cost money, and the Saracens shareholders' investment will rise beyond £16m, but we are determined to advocate proposals that enjoy widespread public support, that creates a home for the award-winning Saracens foundation and a genuine community asset, and that enables our club's return home to the heart of north London."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.