Sports ground safety certificate

Summary of requirements

Sports stadia with a spectator capacity of more than 10,000 people (5,000 in the case of Premiership or Football League grounds) are designated by the government and must be certified under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975. A general safety certificate will cover use of the stadium for certain specified activities, use for other spectator related purposes will require the issue of a special safety certificate.

Any non-designated sports ground which contains a covered stand with a spectator capacity of more than 500 is deemed a regulated stand and must be certified under the Fire Safety and Safety at Places of Sport Act 1987. 

There are no designated sports stadia in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a safety certificate, you must be in a position to prevent contravention of the terms and conditions of a certificate. 

Application evaluation process 

Requirements in relation to sports grounds are far reaching and will include but will not be restricted to the following:

• Structural integrity of the stand/stadia. 
• Provisions for means of escape. 
• Adequate fire precautions. 
• Emergency services co-ordination.
• Provision of suitable management strategies (i.e. stewarding, crowd control, match day safety arrangements, evacuation procedures, contingency plans, etc.)

The certificate holder is under a legal obligation to comply with all terms and conditions contained within the certificate. Certificates are issued to last indefinitely or alternatively may contain an expiry date. Under the legislation the local authority has ongoing control and powers of enforcement so as to ensure reasonable standards of safety are maintained.

The legislation allows for the issue of prohibition notices to prevent spectator access to any sports ground or part when it is considered a safety risk is immediate.

Will tacit consent apply? 

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below. 

What can I do if my application is refused? 

Any applicant who is aggrieved by a decision regarding a determination under this legislation may appeal to:  

What if I am unhappy with a condition imposed? 

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, may appeal to the Magistrates' Court (details above).

What if I have query about my permit?  

Please contact: 

Email: licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

European services directive

If you think that the council has not complied with the European services directive by imposing requirements or conditions in respect of your application that are discriminatory, unfair, or disproportionate, please contact: 

Email: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Health and safety 

Sports grounds which don't need a certificate, should ensure that people working at the ground (as well as spectators) are not put at risk. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, protects people using these buildings as well as those working in larger certificated venues. 

• Wandsworth Council's health and safety web pages
• Health and Safety Executive web pages

Consumer complaints about a sports ground

Please contact:  

Trade associations and other sources of information 

• Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA)
• Scottish Sports Association (SSA)