New fan zones around St Mary’s Stadium given the go ahead
The club wants to improve the matchday experience
Plans to provide new fan zones and big screens around Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium have been given the green light by the city council.
The Premier League club’s proposals feature a large marquee with screens and a stage behind the Northam Stand.
There will be another stage alongside food and drink stalls and a new 4G playing area outside the Chapel Stand, with a third area on the Kingsland Stand side of the stadium.
Agents PowerHaus Consultancy said the scheme aimed to improve the experience for fans on match days, while they could also be used to broadcast other sporting events this summer, such as the European Championship and Paris Olympics.
The club submitted a planning application to Southampton City Council in late April before Russell Martin’s side secured promotion straight back to the top flight via the play-offs.
Planning officers from the local authority approved the proposals under delegated powers.
A report by the case officer said: “The proposed use would enhance the offer at the football club which is a valuable asset to the city centre.
“The use itself is complementary to the club and subject to securing the appropriate mitigation, will not harm residential amenity.”
Work has already started on the scheme, the report said.
It will provide a total of 15 food, beverage and retail stalls around the ground. While some of these facilities would be new, others were being relocated from existing locations.
The application did include plans to reduce the number of cycle storage spaces from 157 to 66.
However, the permission included a condition that before the development comes into use revised plans showing an increase in cycle storage provision to what was proposed had to be submitted and signed off by the local planning authority.
On-site car parking at the stadium will be reduced from 237 standard spaces and 57 disabled spaces to 106 and 30, respectively.
A letter submitted in the application by PowerHaus Consultancy said: “Many of the club’s supporters lobby the club to provide spectator facilities for other sporting and entertainment events at the club, as such venues encourage fans to gather and enjoy the sporting spectacles across a number of yearly events.
“The creation of fan zones enables the club to attract fans, families and friends who have tickets in the respective stands to gather for sporting and other events, which could be used for this year’s events such as the Euros and the Paris Olympics.”