Sports grounds licence - Print version

About safety at sports grounds

The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Fire Safety and Safety of Sports Act 1987 aim to secure the safety of people attending sports grounds.

Lord Justice Taylor's Report of 1989 into the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster made a number of recommendations to further those aims.  Local authorities were advised to set up safety advisory groups to co-ordinate the roles of the council, the emergency services, the sports grounds manager and other interested authorities involved with the management of spectator safety at sporting events.

Building Control takes a major role within Coventry's Safety Advisory Groups dealing with one of the country's most diverse set of sporting venues:

• The Coventry Building Society Arena - Coventry City Football Club
• The Butts Park Arena - Coventry Rugby Club

The Building Control team advises on all technical/legal aspects of legislation relating to the Safety of Sports Grounds of a capacity of more than 10,000 and Regulated Stands that holds 500 or more spectators.

The Building Control team also advises on all matters relating to the issue of a General/Special Safety Certificates and also matters relating to applications for new sports grounds, stands or alterations to sports grounds

Apply for a sports ground licence

When applying you will also be required to supply an events planning manual with all the relevant documentation.

For a Special Safety Certificate the notice required is six weeks and for a change to a General Safety Certificate the notice required is 28 days. 

Apply online

• Apply for a special safety certificate for a sports ground. [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/safety-certificates-for-sports-grounds/coventry/apply-1]
• Apply for a special safety certificate for a regulated stand [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/safety-certificates-for-regulated-stands-at-sports-grounds/coventry/apply-1].

Alternatively, you can download the application forms [/downloads/download/1001/application_form-safety_at_sports_grounds_certificate].

Charges

The fee for an application for a special certificate is dependent on the size and complexity of the project, carrying out of the necessary inspections, administration cost and issuing of the necessary certification.

The minimum fee for a Special Safety Certificate is £1100.00 for an event lasting one day. The fees will include attending the necessary Safety Advisory Group meetings, consultation with other statutory authorities, administration, advertising and printing costs and carrying out the necessary safety inspections.

Additional costs maybe incurred where structural certification of the stage/structural features are required to be checked and inspected.

Length of licence

The licence for a special safety certificate is only valid for the agreed length of the event.

Change of circumstances

For a Special Safety Certificate the notice required is six weeks and for a change to a General Safety Certificate the notice required is 28 days.

• Application to change a safety certificate for a sports ground [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/safety-certificates-for-sports-grounds/coventry/change-1].
• Application to change a safety certificate for a regulated stand [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/safety-certificates-for-regulated-stands-at-sports-grounds/coventry/change-1].

The fee for a change to a general safety certificate is £495.00.

Alternatively, you can download the application forms [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/1001/application_form-safety_at_sports_grounds_certificate].

Right of appeal

As soon as practicable, after the Council have decided:

• to issue a safety certificate (including an issue by way of replacement of a safety certificate); or
• to amend a safety certificate; or
• to refuse to amend or replace a safety certificate,

they shall serve on every interested party notice in writing of their decision. In the case of a refusal see Section 30 of the 1987 Act.

Public register

The public registers of all applications made to the council are available to view. Please contact the licensing team for a copy of the register.