Bid to stage regular concerts at the Ageas Bowl

The home of Hampshire cricket is applying to have conditions that were put in place when it was built relaxed, leaving it free to host concerts on a more regular basis.

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Bosses of the Ageas Bowl in West End are asking for permission to hold three concerts a year at the 35,000-capacity stadium, which means original planning conditions would need to be withdrawn.

Currently the rules state there should be no use of sound amplification equipment that would be heard outside the venue and that the Ageas Bowl only be used for the purposes of cricket.

However, these conditions were relaxed in 2005, 2007 and 2012, which allowed concerts to be staged.

It allowed acts including Oasis, The Who, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond and REM to grace the stage of the West End venue and most recently Barry Manilow in May last year.

Oasis at the Rose Bowl in 2005

Now ground bosses want the rules permanently relaxed.

A Concert Management Plan has been drawn up with key figures, the emergency services, the Ageas Bowl and concert promoters which includes a residents’ hotline on the day.

According to a council report, the venue would also take steps to control noise, with no noise after 10.30pm, controls on rehearsals and a maximum noise level, though it said the new stands and hotel would act as a further sound barrier.

The report added that, for previous concerts, noise was monitored in surrounding communities and found to be within the rules and the council received “relatively few complaints”.

Planning chiefs will meet tonight to discuss the proposal, which has been recommended for approval with conditions.

No residents have raised objection, and neither has West End Parish Council, although the Highways Agency has advised the venue to make use of public transport and park and ride facilities on such occasions.

An officer’s report said the advantage of holding previous concerts was that the council could assess their impact and stadium bosses’ plans to deal with noise and traffic had already been tested and updated or reviewed afterwards.

A spokesman for the Ageas Bowl said: “This is very much a progression from temporary to permanent.

“The ground has always been looking to hold concerts and will continue to do that – it’s very much seen as a big part of what the ground wants to do.”

The ground, which opened in 2001, has recently increased its capacity with new permanent stands.

Councillors on the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee will decide on the proposal at a meeting at the Hedge End 2000 Centre tonight.