Revised plans revealed for Forest Green Rovers’ timber stadium

Ecotricity has revealed the revised plans for its Eco Park development in Gloucestershire, which includes Forest Green Rovers’ new 5,000 capacity wooden stadium as well as offices, industrial space, training facilities and green spaces.The all-timber stadium was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. It received planning approval from Stroud District Council in 2019 and received approval from the English Football League last year.The revised plans for the rest of the Eco Park now matches the council’s local plan. If approved, the project could break ground as early as this spring.The Eco Park will include 38k2 of office space and 18k2 of industrial space that is designed to host companies working in the zero-carbon economy.Ecotricity will also build a new training facility for Forest Green Rovers, bringing training back to the district for the first time since the team went professional. The new complex will provide facilities for the youth, academy, women’s and men’s teams.The new plans will improve the habitat on the site, with a biodiversity gain of over 10% from the existing green fields. This includes enclosing the stadium in 2km of new hedgerows, several thousand new trees, new wetland and a canal.The site aims to self-generate over 80% of the energy that it uses.The development will be off the M5, near junction 13. An extensive archaeological survey is being undertaken to look for Roman artefacts before work commences on the site.