Saracens Rugby Club will have the chance to enhance its community and charitable credentials after being given the green light to revamp its ageing West Stand.

Barnet Council’s decision to allow work to go-head will see the Premiership Rugby club’s Allianz Park increase its capacity from 10,000 to 10,500, but its work away from the rugby field is also due to benefit.

The multi-use arena has become an “essential hub of community, education and sporting activity” in Barnet.

The West Stand’s redevelopment will improve the community sports facilities the stadium offers, as well as the facilities used for the Saracens Sports Foundation, which works with disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the community.

Heath Harvey, chief executive of Saracens, said the Allianz Park improvements would “maximise its positive impact on our community”.

“Our planning was incredibly thorough and considered all the feedback we had received in the months leading up to this,” he added.

As part of the plan, Saracens will be able to increase the ground’s capacity to 15,000 for one match a year.

Work is due to begin later this year, and will be completed by autumn 2018.