Twickenham concert expansion plans reworked

Revised plans to bring "the world's biggest artists" to Twickenham's Allianz Stadium could generate up to £1m a year to be reinvested into the local community, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has said.

The RFU, which owns the arena, wants to hold 15 major non-sporting events each year to generate funds to invest into rugby.

Residents would get priority pre-sale access to 1,000 tickets per concert, with facility fees included in the price going towards a community enhancement fund to improve stadium operations and finance projects that would support the local community, the RFU said.

The planning documents said the proposals would bring "significant economic benefits to the local economy".

"The uplift in the number of major non-sporting events will also create employment opportunities and demand for visitor accommodation," the documents said.

Community groups would be able to make at least 30 free bookings a year to use spaces within the stadium, under the plans.

The RFU's revised proposal also includes extra train services to Twickenham during event days, which it said had been agreed with South Western Railway.

The 82,000-seat stadium currently has permission to hold three major non-sporting events a year, which must not be held on consecutive days, and the capacity is capped at 55,000.

The RFU said the move would help the stadium to become a world-class destination for events, adapt to financial pressures and fund a planned upgrade of the venue.

The RFU's updated proposals come after Richmond Council rejected its application to lift restrictions that only allow Twickenham to host three concerts a year.

The committee asked the RFU to "better engage with the local residents" before submitting any future application to increase the number of concerts.

A petition against the proposals has gathered more than 3,000 signatures, with residents concerned about disruption to their daily lives.

If Richmond Council approves the latest application, the number and scale of events held at the stadium would increase in phases over the span of three years.

A maximum of eight separate events or three consecutive events would be permitted outside of May to September, with no more than three taking place in any two-week period. Events would be capped at 75,000 attendees, with lower limits on weekends.

The RFU is awaiting Richmond Council's decision on the planning application but would also need licensing approval to go ahead with the plans in full.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk