The agonising five-year wait for Forest Green’s proposed £100m new stadium is over.
In a Development Control meeting at Stroud District Council on Tuesday evening, planners finally rubber-stamped Forest Green owner Dale Vince’s ambitious plans to build the stadium at J13 of the M5.
The move also saw plans unanimously approved to demolish the existing New Lawn stadium in Nailsworth and build 95 homes on the site.
Eco Park will also feature an all-wooden 5,000 seat stadium with 1,700 parking spaces, care home, 100 bedroom hotel as well as office space for businesses in the zero-carbon economy.
Chairman Dale Vince said:“This ground-breaking stadium will provide a new home for FGR. The 5,000 capacity stadium will be the first stadium to be made almost entirely from wood which is beautiful, natural, durable and sustainable.
“We’ve taken a step closer towards the world’s greenest sports complex and a fabulous facility for the local community.”
A nature reserve will be created that will improve the habitat on site by creating more green space with trees, wetland, hedgerows, and a new canal.
The build will contribute around £150m to the local economy annually while generating £2m per year for Stroud District Council.
Colin Peake, a life member of Forest Green, spoke in favour of the scheme at the development control meeting at Ebley Mill.
He said: “Whether you’re a devotee of the game or not, very few can argue that the club has brought the world to your doorstep with what has been witnessed over the last few years,” he said.
“From small acorns, oak trees grow. And while I cannot guarantee the small acorn of Newton Heath which became Manchester United is likely to happen at junction 13, I know that the late Trevor Horsley and I dreamt of where Forest Green Rovers FC could aspire to reach.
“It was some dream when you had just 32 people and a dog watching a game of football when we first took over. Fortunately, that is now a distant memory and so what lies over the horizon no one can really know.
“Whoever has ownership or takes over the running of this football club since 1889, all of us, including Dale Vince, are just temporary custodians. But each and every one of us has had the same objective which is to leave it in a better place for a future generation to enjoy.”
