PLANNING permission has been granted to rugby giant Wasps to build a new training complex at Henley Sports Centre.
Wasps’ planning application for the 13-acre site on Stratford Road was granted by Stratford District Council yesterday (Wednesday).
The premiership club will now press ahead with plans to relocate from its temporary training base at Broadstreet Rugby Club in Coventry. Wasps moved to the base after shutting out tenants Coventry City Football Club amid a legal dispute.
Wasps chief executive Stephen Vaughan said: “This is a landmark moment for the club. The new training centre will provide an elite environment for our playing staff and next generation of players.
“These are exciting times for everybody connected to Wasps. We have a lot of work to do and are committed to keeping our supporters, along with the wider public, up to date with progress and plans to engage with the community.
“In the meantime, we look forward to maintaining strong working relationships with our friends at Broadstreet Rugby Club, who have been exemplary in understanding our position throughout.”
The permission was granted amid fierce opposition from a number of communities and groups based at the centre including ten football clubs, a school, college, disabled basketball team and other groups.
The application which emerged earlier this year triggered a petition with nearly 3,000 objectors. The council also received more than 700 letters of objection and 11 letters of support.
Campaign group Henley Sports Centre Alliance hoped to take over running the site as a Community Interest Company, and run the centre for community use.
A campaign member said: “The irony of this is that without grass roots sport, there can be no elite sport, and it is about time that councillors were forced into acknowledging and acting on this, rather than cosying up to people they perceive to be of importance based on finance.
“The whole sorry saga has been a disgrace from start to finish, and I hope that people will not forget this based on the offer of a free ticket.”
