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Saracens is set to become the first professional rugby club to play home matches on an artificial pitch after its plans to renovate the Barnet Copthall Stadium in north London were recommended for approval by planning officers.
If built, the stadium would be used as a multi-sport stadium, acting as the home to athletics club Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, and be available free of charge to local schools.
It will have 3,000 permanent seats, but will also feature removable stands that allow up to 10,000 fans into the venue.
The application will now go to the planning committee for final approval and Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said that community concerns about the project had shaped the plans.
"Issues have been raised throughout the process, such as Green Belt policy and transportation," he said.
"We have responded by amending our plans, providing further information and introducing robust safeguards."
The plans will be heard by councillors at a planning committee meeting on February 2nd.
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