"World's greenest stadium", designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, gets go-ahead
by Stu Robarts | 19 Dec 2019
The planned new stadium for Forest Green Rovers FC, which was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and has been dubbed the "greenest football venue in the world", has been given the go-ahead.
The stadium is intended to form part of a £100m ($131m, €118m), 100ac (40ha) sports and green technology business park development, owned by club chairman Dale Vince's Ecotricity green energy group, and to be carbon neutral or positive.
It will be built entirely out of sustainably sourced timber, will generate renewable energy on-site and will include the creation of a nature reserve.
Permission for the development, near the UK town of Eastington, was rejected by Stroud District Council in June due to concerns about noise, traffic and the impact on the landscape.
A revised proposal was submitted in August, with Forest Green Rover telling CLAD: "We have turned one of the grass training pitches into an all-weather, artificial pitch that will be available for local sports clubs to use.
"We submitted detailed plans showing how our neighbours will be screened from the stadium by an earth bund and extensive tree planting. These plans also show how techniques used by the National Trust will ensure that the car parking blends into the landscape."
The revised proposal also included additional matchday transport, legal assurance and impact study updates.
Plans for the stadium and wider development were first unveiled in 2015. Vince said it will now take three years for the stadium to be constructed at the very least.
"The stadium's been on the drawing board for five years and before that we were looking for a site for three, so it's been a long time," he said. "It's passed every hurdle and been recommended twice by officers. It was a surprise last time when it was turned down."
Zaha Hadid Architects Forest Green Rovers stadium
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects / MIR
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VA
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VA
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VA
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VA
Credit: Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VA
06 Aug 2019
'World's greenest stadium', designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, would be made from wood
03 Nov 2016
Zaha Hadid Architects win competition to design 'greenest stadium in the world'
14 Jul 2016
Dale Vince lifts the lid on 'first of its kind' Forest Green Rovers eco-stadium project
04 Jul 2016
Glenn Howells and Zaha Hadid Architects reach final in stadium design competition for Forest Green Rovers
20 May 2016
Nine architects shortlisted in race to design eco-stadium for Forest Green Rovers FC
04 Apr 2016
English football club Forest Green Rovers launches stadium design competition for £100m Eco Park
23 Jul 2015
Forest Green Rovers reveal £100m Eco Park plans
FEATURE: News Feature – Forest Green Rovers and the ‘world’s first’ eco-stadium
The planned new stadium for Forest Green Rovers FC, which was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and has been dubbed the "greenest football venue in the world", has been given the go-ahead. The stadium is intended to form part of a £100m ($131m, €118m), 100ac (40ha) sports and green technology business park development, owned by club chairman Dale Vince's Ecotricity green energy group, and to be carbon neutral or
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
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