page_title: Totally Wicked Stadium
section_title: Plans and Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Totally Wicked Stadium / Plans and Construction
caption_attribution_description: First ever game EVER at St Helens RLFC new stadium at Langtree Park (and we was there). This is a panorama from our seats not long before kick-off. The game was the annual Karalius Cup match against the old rivals, Widnes Vikings. Saints won 42:24 (which is a nicely palindromic score). Four-shot hand-held panorama made with the onboard panorama assist tool and stitched in photoshop. Click on image for a larger version, click on 'View all sizes' and then choose 'original' for the proper screen-stretcher
context_page_description: Totally Wicked Stadium is a rugby league stadium in the Peasley Cross area of St. Helens. Known as Langtree Park until 2017, it has a capacity of over 18,000 and is the home ground of St Helens R.F.C.. The stadium was granted full planning permission on 20 May 2008. On 11 July 2008 the go-ahead was given without the need for a public enquiry and construction started in 2010. The first rugby league match to be played at the stadium was between St. Helens and Widnes on Friday 20 January 2012. St. Helens won the opening game by 42-24 and they moved in ready for the 2012 Super League season.
  Liverpool F.C. U18s also play their home games at the stadium.
context_section_description: The proposed plans came in three parts. The proposed parts were:
  1. The transformation of the derelict former United Glass site to create a new 18,000-capacity stadium for St. Helens as well as a 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m²) Tesco Extra next to the rugby ground. The stadium itself was to be a seating and standing arena with an oval shaped roof extending out from the south stand
  2. The redevelopment of the existing town centre Tesco store in Chalon Way into alternative high quality retail use, enhancing the retail available in St Helens town centre.
  3. The development of the existing St. Helens site at Knowsley Road to create high quality residential accommodation, regenerating the local area.
  The club stressed that if one of the three parts fell through, the whole project would have been in jeopardy. However councillors in St Helens approved the new Saints’ stadium. Members of the Planning Committee endorsed the triple planning application granting permission subject to terms and conditions and a health and safety risk assessment
  Demolition of the former UGB Glass plant began in late January 2009, with construction due to begin after the clearance of the 46-acre (190,000 m²) site had been completed. In July 2010, the building contractor Barr Construction Ltd was selected to build the new stadium. Construction commenced on 23 August 2010, with the Tesco store completed in October 2011 and the stadium in November 2011.
caption: Panorama of Langtree Park on opening night in January 2012
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