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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 829
SPORTS GROUNDS AND
SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation)
(Amendment) (England) Order 2026
Made - - - - 14th July 2026
Laid before Parliament 16th July 2026
Coming into force - - 6th August 2026
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(1) and
18(2) of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975(1).
The Secretary of State is of the opinion that the conditions in section 1(1) of that Act(2) are
satisfied and, in accordance with section 18(4) of that Act, has consulted with such persons and
bodies of persons as appear requisite to the Secretary of State.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (Amendment)
(England) Order 2026, and comes into force on 6th August 2026.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
Amendments to the Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2015
2. Schedule 2 (sports grounds designated under article 2(2)) of The Safety of Sports Grounds
(Designation) Order 2015(3) is amended as follows—
(a) omit the entry for Holker Street, occupied by Barrow Association Football Club;
(b) omit the entry for The Football Stadium, occupied by Harrogate Town Association
Football Club;
(1) 1975 c. 52; section 1(1) was amended by Schedule 2 to the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 (c. 27).
(2) By section 1(1) of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, the Secretary of State may by order designate as requiring a safety
certificate under that Act any sports ground which, in the Secretary of State’s opinion, has accommodation for more than
10,000 spectators. The Safety of Sports Grounds (Accommodation of Spectators) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/499) substituted the
number 5,000 for the number of spectators specified in section 1(1) of that Act in respect of sports grounds in England and
Wales at which association football matches are played and which are occupied by a club which is a member of the Football
League Limited or the Football Association Premier League Limited.
(3) S.I. 2015/661 to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.Document Generated: 2026-07-16
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
(c) after the entry for Madejski Stadium, occupied by Reading Football Club, insert—
“Crown Oil Arena, Sandy Lane, Rochdale, Rochdale Association Football Club and
OL11 5DR Rochdale Hornets Rugby League Football
Club”;
(d) after the entry for Adams Park, occupied by Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, insert—
“LNER Community Stadium, Kathryn York City Football Club”.
Avenue, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington,
York, YO32 9AF
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
14th July 2026 Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2Document Generated: 2026-07-16
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
By section 1(1) of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (c. 52) the Secretary of State may designate
as a sports ground requiring a safety certificate under that Act any sports ground which, in the
Secretary of State’s opinion, has accommodation for more than the specified number of spectators.
By The Safety of Sports Grounds (Accommodation of Spectators) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/499), the
specified number of spectators is 5,000 in respect of those sports grounds in England and Wales at
which association football matches are played and which are occupied by a club that is a member of
the Football League Limited or the Football Association Premier League Limited. Sports grounds
meeting these conditions may be designated under article 2(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, The Safety of
Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/661, “the 2015 Order”).
This Order amends the 2015 Order so as to reflect the following recent changes—
• As a result of relegation, Barrow Association Football Club and Harrogate Town Association
Football Club are no longer members of the Football League Limited.
• By virtue of promotion, Rochdale Association Football Club and York City Football Club are
members of the Football League Limited occupying sports grounds whose capacity exceed (in
the opinion of the Secretary of State) 5,000 spectators.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on
the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
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