New St Helens Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = New St Helens Stadium
nickname =


location = St Helens
broke_ground =
opened =
demolished =
owner = St Helens RFC
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost = £25 Million [ [http://www.inthenews.co.uk/sports/rugby/sport/rugby-league/saints-granted-permission-new-stadium-$1231342.htm Saints granted permission for new stadium ] ]
architect =
former_names =
tenants = St Helens Town F.C.,
seating_capacity = 18,000|The New St Helens Stadium is a planned stadium to be constructed in St Helens. It has a projected capacity of 18,000. It will be the home ground of St Helens RFC and St Helens Town F.C.. The Stadium was granted full planning permission on the 20th, May 2008. On 11 July 2008 the go-ahead was given without the need for a public enquiry meaning construction should start in mid-2009 with the new stadium due to open in 2011. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/st_helens/7501899.stm BBC SPORT | Rugby League | My Club | St Helens | St Helens stadium given go-ahead ] ]

Proposed plans

The proposed plans come in three parts. The proposed parts are:

1. The transformation of the derelict former United Glass site to create a new 18,000-capacity stadium for St Helens Rugby League Club as well as a convert|140000|sqft|m2|abbr=on Tesco Extra next to the rugby ground. The Stadium itself will be a seating and standing arena with an oval shaped roof extending out from the south stand

2. The redevelopment of the existing town centre Tesco store in Chalon Way into alternative high quality retail use, enhancing the retail available in St Helens Town Centre.

3. The development of the existing St Helens Rugby League Club site at Knowsley Road to create high quality residential accommodation, regenerating the local area.

The club has stressed that if one of the three parts fall through, the whole project would be in jeopardy. However on the 20th of may Councillors in St Helens gave a resounding thumbs up for the new Saints’ stadium which will take the rugby club and the town into an exciting new era.

Members of the Planning Committee endorsed the triple planning application granting permission subject to terms and conditions and a health and safety risk assessment

Reaction

Saints’ chairman Eamonn McManus comments: “This is wonderful news for the Club, its supporters and for the town of St Helens. I sincerely thank all at the Borough Council and MP Dave Watts for their invaluable work and help to date. “We now look forward to a similar positive outcome from the Government Office for the North West and would urge all to continue with expressions of constructive support for a project so critical to the future of the Club and of the town.” John Downes, managing director of Langtree says of the decision: “This is fantastic news, and is a vital step forward in our plans to transform the former United Glass site. Langtree is proud to be playing such an integral role in the development of a new stadium and in the regeneration of St Helens town. The planning application is the product of a lot of hard work over the last few years by everyone involved and the result will be a fantastic new development with the new Saints Stadium as its centrepiece. “Whilst we still need to resolve the future of the Ancient Monument as the Council are requiring us to consolidate and repair it which is not viable for the development to support, the proposals will now go to the Government Office for the North West for their consideration and obviously we hope for a speedy positive result.” St Helens Council Leader Brian Spencer adds: "The development will bring a range of benefits, not just to our own town but to the region in general, bringing massive investment and jobs. This has been 10 years in the making but I am sure everyone will agree that this will be a first class stadium fit for a world class club.”

David Rolinson, Planning Manager for the project says: “We couldn’t have received better news. We still need to resolve the future of the Ancient Monument, which at the moment the Council require us to enhance, but which is not viable for the scheme to support. “We have put four years of hard work in order to get this scheme absolutely right and are very concerned about the Ancient Monument issue. “However, this is an important day as together these developments are set to change the face of St Helens and continue to deliver its urban renaissance.”

[ [http://www.sthelensstadium.com/ Langtree Group plc - St Helens Stadium ] ] [ [http://www.saintsrlfc.com/ Saints » Home ] ]