New look for historic rugby ground revealed

PLANS to redevelop St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground into an 8,000-capacity home for regional rugby side the Ospreys include a matchday park-and-ride service for supporters, but a proposal to convert the clubhouse into housing has been dropped.

- 

The park-and-ride service would operate from car parks at Swansea University's Singleton Campus, just under a mile to the west, and its Bay Campus four miles to the east off Fabian Way, near Jersey Marine.

Swansea Council planning and highways officers are assessing the Ospreys' detailed application to slightly move the existing pitch used by Swansea RFC in a north-easterly direction towards the city centre, create three new stands, and refurbish and cover the existing stand on the Bryn Road side of the ground.

The pitch would be artificial grass, and there'd be a fan zone at the Gorse Lane side of the ground, plus a staff car park and media compound, additional supporter entrances and toilets, a ticket sales entrance, a big screen and new greenery.

The planning application also seeks outline consent for a training barn, a gym, and changing and medical rooms for coaches and officials, which forms the second phase of the redevelopment at the council-owned site. This building would be at the Gorse Lane end of the ground opposite the Patti Pavilion.