Campaigners are "very confident" Saracens’ plans to relocate to Copthall stadium will go up in smoke despite Barnet Council’s approval.

Copthall Community Initiative (CCI) and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have pledged to lobby the Mayor of London and Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government to oppose the application.

Paul Herman, chairman of CCI said: “We are very confident they will turn this down and leave egg on Barnet’s face.”

But if Mr Johnson and Mr Pickle do not object, the Premiership rugby club will develop Copthall into a 10,000 seated venue.

Mr Herman said: “The plans would have an immediate traffic and parking nightmare on the area. We’d also lose a key bit of green belt land right in the heart of Mill Hill and it would be a crying shame for the community.”

John Turtle, vice chairman of CPRE, said: “Copthall is about the worst possible site they could choose, at the centre of a sensitive part of the green belt designated to prevent urban sprawl, and with a public transport access level of zero - the worst possible rating.

“CPRE will be pressing the secretary of state to call the application in for a public inquiry."

Under Saracen’s plans the new ground would be used for up to 16 home matches a year and remain open for community use on non match days. Members of the public would also have access to a new indoor athletics track and an artificial turf pitch.

Saracens and England international player Owen Farrell said: “I have a few friends who are athletes and a new indoor training area is going to be a massive asset for them.

“The artificial turf pitch means the facility is available for local schools 349 days of the year and that will have a huge impact on thousands of lives.

But CCI, which has the support of more than 1,800 people, has come up with an alternative proposal.

Mr Herman said: “We would take the financial burden away from the council and invest in other facilities without developing a 10,000 seated stadium.

“We would use the facilities for things like ballet classes, bridge sessions, football clubs and martial arts classes.

“It would be paid for by the community and used by the community.”

CCI claims it can double Copthall’s usage within eight months and will launch its plans in the next fortnight on its website: www.copthallcommunityinitiative.org