Watford FC have been granted permission to make their temporary training dome permanent at appeal.

At a meeting on June 15, 2023, Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee refused the Hornets’ bid to keep the huge pitch cover after the expiry of the five-year temporary permission they had been granted in 2018.

Without the 22-metre-high dome, which is inflated between October 1 and April 1 each year, the pitches at their London Colney training ground can become “unusable” in bad weather and so the club took the decision to a public inquiry by the planning inspectorate.

Yesterday (October 1), the inspector published his decision allowing the appeal for the Bell Lane site.

Particular weight was given to the public benefits that the dome offers by being available for community groups such as the Frank Soo Foundation, Fighting Fit Football Club, Herts Youth Inclusive Football, and Watford Football Club Community Sports and Education Trust to use free of charge.

Several of the groups made representations in the inquiry and it was found that a total of 80,717 participant visits and 1,204 sessions were hosted between 2019 and 2024, potentially saving groups £150 per hour.

(Image: Action Images) Hertsmere Borough Council received 22 objections from the public before its own decision and heard that it was much larger than the requirements for an indoor facility and “not in keeping with the architectural designs of the area”.

The dome is near the Grade II-listed Salisbury Hall, although the extent of the harm to the heritage asset was deemed a “matter of dispute”. It is visible along the M25, in London Colney, and neighbouring villages such as Shenley due to its height.

The council ruled that its community benefits did not outweigh the green belt harm, but yesterday the inspector concluded that while it is an inappropriate development, the good would outweigh the bad.

The dome at Watford FC's training ground. (Image: CovAir/Savills/Hertsmere Borough Council) “Naturally, everyone within Watford Football Club and its Community Trust is delighted with the positive outcome of the public inquiry,” Watford chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury said.

“I am delighted that the officer leading the public inquiry has seen fit to award permanent planning permission for the dome, with conditions attached which we have already been planning to meet in full.”

He added that he was grateful to those involved in getting the result over the line, including community groups that gave representations.

A Hertsmere Borough Council spokesperson said: "We acknowledge the outcome of the appeal, and are currently reviewing the decision internally.”