The Rugby Football Union's (RFU) proposal to host more concerts at Twickenham Stadium has encountered resistance from local councillors. They insist that planning permission should not be awarded until the plan provides a stronger commitment to limiting its impact on the community.
The RFU submitted its planning application to Richmond council earlier this summer, aiming to use the stadium for non-sporting events for up to 15 days annually. A decision on this application is anticipated in October. The public consultation period concluded on Thursday, with 456 submissions opposing the plan and 240 in favour.
Councillors from Whitton, St Margarets, and North Twickenham wards, while not against the idea of more concerts, believe the current proposal lacks sufficient guarantees for infrastructure improvements to manage the increased use and mitigate effects on residents. They highlighted concerns regarding transport, road closures, and the cumulative impact of additional events, suggesting the RFU should fully fund "additional public realm impacts."
The RFU, which currently hosts three non-sporting events per year, has applied for a phased increase to eight events spread across 15 days, and to raise the maximum capacity from 55,000 to 75,000. The union states that additional revenue from these events is crucial for funding a planned £660m overhaul of Twickenham and has previously indicated a potential relocation if the necessary permission is not granted.