The RFU received planning permission in December 2004 from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for planning permission for its amended scheme for the redevelopment of Twickenham Stadium’s South Stand at an estimated cost of approximately £70 million.

For commercial and operational reasons the RFU has made the decision to amend the original scheme to one that is smaller in scale than the scheme which received planning permission last December. The proposed redevelopment of the existing South Stand would fully enclose and surround the playing area with spectator seating to produce a completed bowl.

The new scheme, as with the previous scheme, would still increase stadium capacity from the current 75,000 to 82,000. Within it, the RFU would also build a 156 bed four star hotel including six VIP suites with views over the pitch, conference and exhibition space, a performing arts centre, a health and fitness club, office space for the RFU and a new Rugby Store.

Although the new scheme is smaller than the original application, the RFU has informed Richmond Council that it will still contribute the £2.5million Section 106 agreement originally committed for the larger scheme. This funding will be used for a number of measures to offset any impact of the development on the local area (see attached briefing notes).

The RFU is proposing a package of community measures as part of the development. Central to this is a Performing Arts Centre built within the exhibition space, for use by local music, theatre and drama groups and an increase in availability of tickets to England matches for local residents from 50 to 400 tickets.

The key changes from the original scheme are:

a) The hotel is reduced from 200 bedrooms to 156 bedrooms and is also reduced from 4 bedroom floors to 3 floors. A significant change is that in the approved scheme, all 200 rooms had views towards Whitton Road. In the revised scheme, 45 rooms overlook an internal atrium and 105 rooms (a 50% reduction over the approved scheme) look towards Whitton Road.

b) The basement car park for 200 cars to be used by hotel guests, health & leisure club members is omitted and replaced by a designated parking area in the West Car Park with access via Rugby Road.

c) The removal of the Corporate Hospitality accommodation from the highest level lowers the overall height of the commercial development.

d) Health & Leisure club facilities are reduced by 540 square metres.

e) The RFU retail store is reduced by 1524 square metres.

f) Conference, exhibition, banqueting facilities and corporate hospitality has increased by 1697 square metres.

g) The total amount of floor space of the development has been reduced by 16%.

h) There will be less traffic associated with the commercial development because of the reduced size of the scheme.

i) There will be less traffic activity around the Whitton Rd/Rugby Rd junction now that the underground car park has gone

An exhibition of the revised scheme will be on display at Twickenham Stadium details of which will be announced soon in the local press and www.twickenhamstadium.com

Richard Knight, RFU Stadium Director said, “We have been working with the architect, our consultants and potential operators to ensure that English rugby gets the first class stadium it deserves and there will be tangible benefits for local people and the local area.”

The South Stand proposals confirm Twickenham’s role as a major contributor to the economic prosperity of South West London. The redevelopment will generate approximately 200 full time jobs and mean an extra 105 more staff joining those currently employed on match days.

Subject to planning permission the South Stand will take approximately two years to complete and the redevelopment is expected to commence in June 2005.