The Home of England Rugby could be opened up to more big concerts to generate money in the same way venues like Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley stadiums do.

More than 800 people have signed a petition opposing the plans citing concerns over disruption to residents and local transport being inadequate to cope with the huge crowds on a more regular basis.

Allianz Stadium Twickenham, which is the home of England Rugby, would be able to hold 15 major non-sporting events every year, up from three, if the plans are approved by Richmond Council.

The petition, from resident Daniel Lever, raised concerns that such an increase in events would 'come at the cost of our community's wellbeing, safety and daily life'. It has so far gained 879 signatures, since being launched on 24 April.

The campaign comes after owner Rugby Football Union (RFU) put forward plans to bring in more cash to improve the stadium's reputation as a 'world-class venue for sports and entertainment' in March.

The RFU revealed in a report the stadium needs significant investment as many stands have not been upgraded since the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Current planning and licensing restrictions mean the stadium can only host three major non-sporting events every year, leaving it empty for up to 340 days a year.

The report said: "These restrictions make it difficult to attract top global artists. As a result, Allianz Stadium has missed opportunities to host world-renowned performers in recent years – at a time when the concert industry is booming."

Mr Lever's petition called on the council and RFU to put the plans on hold until proper infrastructure, planning and safeguards are in place.

The petition's demands include long-term investment in public transport, by increasing capacity on services and routes, compensation for disruption, strict noise limits, improved communication and regular reviews.

It said Twickenham's strained transport network is not designed to cope with the footfall and traffic brought about by major events at the stadium, with crowd dispersal after events often taking hours.

Twickenham has a National Rail station but is not connected to the London Underground.

It added that concerts at the stadium have often caused more antisocial behaviour than rugby events, including littering, drug use, public urination and noise disturbing residents' sleep.

The petition said: "We are not opposed to the stadium or all events. We understand the cultural and economic benefits that major events can bring. However, these benefits cannot come at the cost of our community's wellbeing, safety, and daily life."

It added: "We believe Twickenham deserves better. Our community is being asked to carry the burden of a national stadium without the infrastructure, planning, or protections that such a role demands.

We ask Richmond Council and other decision-makers to stand with local residents and not allow commercial pressure to override public interest."

The venue, previously known as Twickenham Stadium, has been the home of England Rugby since 1909. It was renamed under a sponsorship deal with insurance company Allianz in September 2024.

The RFU's planning application to hold up to 15 major non-sporting events at the stadium will be available to view on the council's website in due course.

It is also set to submit a licensing application to increase the number of people allowed to attend as the current capacity of concerts at the venue is capped at 55,000 people, compared to 82,000 attendees on rugby match days.

An RFU spokesperson said: "Enhancing its value to our local community is one of the key goals in our vision for the future of Allianz Stadium.

"Our planning application to host more non-sporting events is clear that we are seeking to make improvements to a range of areas we know residents have concerns around, including transport, noise, communication and timing of events.

"Though we are comfortable that our community consultation process was comprehensive, with over 300 people attending in person sessions and over 4,000 filling in the survey, we will continue to work hard to ensure that residents understand what we are doing to tackle any concerns they have.

"Many of the issues and requests raised in this petition are either being planned for, being worked on, or are already part of the current application process.

"For example, we are proposing that most non-sporting events only take place between May and September and largely at weekends, and we are exploring establishing a new community fund to support local projects.

"We look forward to ongoing positive dialogue with residents and local stakeholders."

A Richmond Council spokesperson added: "Richmond Council values the presence of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in Richmond upon Thames and remains open to constructive discussions about the stadium's operations. The current planning permissions do not restrict the number and type of sporting events that can be held at the stadium.

"However, certain non-sporting events, such as concerts, are currently limited to three per calendar year with a maximum capacity of 55,000 people – conditions that are in place to benefit major events and the needs of local residents, considering noise and transport impacts.

"These capacity limitations were previously imposed on a planning permission issued by the Planning Inspectorate.

"Richmond Council is currently engaging with the RFU to ensure the stadium remains a high-performing venue while maintaining a fair approach for those who live and work in the area.

"Any increase to the number and capacity of future concerts would need to be part of a planning application and determined through the planning process."