Sports ground safety certificate

Overview

If you operate a sports ground in England, Scotland or Wales that holds more than 10,000 spectators, you may be required to hold a safety certificate.

A safety certificate may be either a:

general safety certificate issued for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity, or activities, during an indefinite period
special safety certificate for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity or activities on a specified occasion or occasions

You can get a safety certificate from South Tyneside Council.

You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate.

Apply for, or make a change to a certificate

Apply for a sports ground safety certificate

Apply to change a safety certificate for a sports ground

For more information, contact Building Control on 0191 424 7436 or email buildingcontrol@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Eligibility criteria

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

Fees

Where a general safety certificate is issued for a new build stadia, regulated stand, or a special safety certificate is applied for, a fee will be charged for "commensurate work actually and reasonably done" by the Council.

As each application is different in build and time, we will discuss the fee with you after we have received your application form.

As it is the Council's policy in line with national guidance, to review and reissue these certificates on an annual basis, there will also be an annual charge for this commensurate work, once the initial certificate has been issued.

For clarification of the likely fees to be involved please contact Building Control on 0191 424 7436 or email buildingcontrol@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Application evaluation process

You must provide requested information and plans to the council within the time specified.

If you don't provide the requested information within the specified time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

We will consider if the applicant is in a position to prevent any breach of the terms and conditions of a certificate.

South Tyneside Council must send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority.

Each of these bodies must be consulted about the terms and conditions to be included in a certificate.

If an application is made to transfer a certificate the council must determine if the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred, if they made an application, would qualify for the issue of a certificate.

The applicant may be the current holder of the certificate or the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred.

The Council must send a copy of a transfer application to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority in England and Wales.

We shall consult them about any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer.

Timescale

As each application for a safety certificate for a new build stadia, regulated stand of a special safety certificate unique in terms of build and time involvement, each application will require an individual determination of the anticipated time to process the relevant application.

Upon submission of an application the anticipated timescales will be confirmed to the applicant with the letter confirming the applications acknowledgement.

Tacit consent

Tacit consent is where an application is treated as accepted if a reply is not recieved within a certain timeframe.

Tacic consent does not apply. I

f you would like to check on the progress of your application, please contact Building Control on 0191 424 7436 or email buildingcontrol@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Appeals

Appealing a decision

Please contact South Tyneside Council in the first instance.

If you are refused a safety certificate because you are not considered to be an eligible person, you can appeal to the Magistrates court.

You may also appeal to the Magistrates court against a refusal of your application based on grounds other than a decision that you are not an eligible person.

Appealing a condition of the license

Please contact South Tyneside Council in the first instance.

If you want to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, your safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, you may appeal to the Magistrates court.

You may also appeal to the county court against an order of the Magistrate's court.

Other appeals

Any person concerned in ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate may appeal to the Magistrate's court against any condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, a safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate.

If you want to make a complaint

If you have a complaint, we advise that you contact the trader, preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery).

If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice.

From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.