New Stadium

[andymac26]

This piece just came up on AOL home page....great images.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/t ... 5986290_uk

[Tommo]

Couple of pictures I hadn't seen before - thanks.

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

Hey man! That was exactly what BBC Points West were showing in the final part of the sport ... Forest Green latest round-up last Friday.

[RJBora]

Just came across a link to this 'article' on the front page of cnn.com

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/football/ ... index.html

Wouldn't think too many National League teams have made the front page at CNN.

[Tommo]

I am losing the plot I suspect - not sure if this is the last thread on the stadium or whether this article is new (since it didn't tell me much I didn't already know).

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/n ... ef=mr&lp=5

But I did see reference to the fact that the Supporters Club have seen the detailed plans and are happy. Do the plans include any standing areas? I get the impression from the pictures and text in the article that there are not since it refers to symmetry and seating.

[Timb]

Hi Tommo.

There are no detailed plans that have been released for the stadium itself yet as far as I am aware. There are the cg images and the sketch layout plans for the development as a whole.

Standing has been raised as an issue on a number of occasions and I know that David Drew who is part of the planning project management team, is fully aware of the desire for standing areas and fully supports the principle.

At the current time the application is for the detailed design of the access from the A419 and associated highway improvements only, Detailed design of the stadium will follow as a further submission after the first application is approved.

The supporters club have written in support of the overall proposals for the development.

[Tommo]

Thanks Tim. It still looks an exciting development even without standing room.

I will miss the walk to the existing ground but, overall, I'm keen to see the plans come to fruition.

[michael]

bit of an issue arisen it seems.

not all plain sailing apparently -but these things never are

[camel]

bit of an issue arisen it seems.

not all plain sailing apparently -but these things never are

What has happened?

[stanman]

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15162089.Council_and_Ecotricity_at_loggerheads_over_key_issue_in_Eco_Park_debate/

[camel]

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15162089.Council_and_Ecotricity_at_loggerheads_over_key_issue_in_Eco_Park_debate/

Thanks Stanman

[Pitchfork]

I find these arguments so frustrating, it must take a lot of willpower to drive the project forward. All this conflict over figures and what is needed by 2031 is so tedious. Perhaps the newspaper article just makes it sound overcomplicated?

"Eco Park is earmarked for land next to junction 13 of the M5 and would include a green technology business hub, sports complex and new stadium for Forest Green Rovers, which together take up 19 hectares of green fields.

Stroud District Council (SDC) says its overall planning blueprint up to 2031 identifies 40 hectares of land currently available for employment development.

Stroud District Council (SDC) says its overall planning blueprint up to 2031 identifies 50 hectares of land currently available for employment development.

Crucially though, it believes there is currently a surplus of 12 hectares against these requirements – meaning is sees no overwhelming need for more large job sites.


This is disputed by Ecotricity, whose own commissioned study puts this figure at a shortage of 14 hectares, which favours its argument for building Eco Park.

To matters even more complicated, a third study recently commissioned by SDC and carried out by independent company NLP, found a deficit of around 1.5 hectares – which was then disputed by the council.

It remains our view that there is a 14 hectare shortfall and given Eco Park is able to provide almost 19 hectares, that could turn into a five hectares surplus.

Eco Park will provide the district with 18.9 hectares of class B1, B2 and B8 employment land.”

[Too occasional fan]

One of the reasons for planning laws and process is to stop people running roughshod, with out of control money-making schemes, taking precedence over things that are broadly right for communities.

It's a flawed process, granted, but it's the one we've got. We saw a few years back what happens when the process was changed without thinking it through - a developers charter that resulted in a large number of badly thought out and damaging housing schemes that benefitted the developers hugely. You'll have seen some of them on the front pages of the local press.

[King George]

I really, really hope this continues to keep getting rejected, FGR belongs in FGR! The current stadium can easily sustain league football. Hopefully Dale doesn't get what he wants over this as I think their would be more people who stay away than people who would continue to go.

[Chrisgump11]

If FGR was easily accessible at Forest Green, then I might agree with KG. But it is not and can never be as crowds grow between 2,000 - 3,000 and the location cannot sustain a club which is growing at the current rate. Moreover, FGR draws scant support from the 'hamlet' as surveys have shown, not least because of the match day congestion and disruption

More to the point though, the Junction 13 proposals AS A WHOLE comprise the most exciting project I have seen in the 32 years I have lived here. I say that as a local, a FGR supporter and as a retired Development Surveyor. They are Stroud's equivalent of a sporting centre of excellence added to 'our' version of AztecWest. They also underpin the Stroud's claim to head the march of Green Industry, whilst other so called leaders try to pretend green energy sources can be bettered by yet more carbon fuels.

For my children and their children they provide unimaginable sport and leisure facilities for a community of our size and employment prospects to boot. It particularly saddens me when people of my generation or older try to preserve their lifestyle through opposition to 'good' change. We should be as motivated by opportunity for our future generations as by self interest.

Make no mistake, this land will be developed sooner or later. But what would be preferred - the mix of leisure and employment by a successful local company or spec warehousing and industry as at Moreton Valence and Junction 12?

If our Planning Authority was to pass up this opportunity, it will be condemned down the generations, deservedly so

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

Go along with that C/G11. Haven't heard of a local project that doesn't go through the 'face-off' stage and ultimately comes to fruition, albeit with agreed modifications. Bit like building a diplomatic treaty really.

Incinerator at J12/M5 was a protracted argument between planners and proposers, but hey! It finally goes ahead.

[Timb]

I remember people saying that moving to The New Lawn from the old one was a step too far KG. It took a leap of faith to see that move through. It's crazy to think that we are now 15 years on from starting the design-move process that has led to where we are now.

Who knows where we'll be in another 15 years time. One thing's for sure. We won't be standing still.

The whole next move is a big move up in every in every way. But ultimately no less ambitious than the club has always been.

[King George]

I just think were going to lose more fans than gain, but we shall see..

[Timb]

Interesting to hear that AFC Wimbledon have been given the green light today to build their new stadium 250 yards from Plough Lane.

The plans were unveiled in August 2012. So just over 5 years to get through the planning process.

They currently have a capacity of just under 5000 and intend to build initially to 11000. But they have completed all necessary transport and other assessments for upgrade in the future to 20000 capacity.

Initial cost: £11 million which is a finance arrangement that the supporters trust will be responsible for.

A big step.

The Supporters Club are hoping to meet with the new stadium planning team in the new year to review progress for our new stadium.

[Greeners Jnr]

Interesting to hear that AFC Wimbledon have been given the green light today to build their new stadium 250 yards from Plough Lane.

The plans were unveiled in August 2012. So just over 5 years to get through the planning process.

They currently have a capacity of just under 5000 and intend to build initially to 11000. But they have completed all necessary transport and other assessments for upgrade in the future to 20000 capacity.

Initial cost: £11 million which is a finance arrangement that the supporters trust will be responsible for.

A big step.

The Supporters Club are hoping to meet with the new stadium planning team in the new year to review progress for our new stadium.

So if similar timescale happens for Green we can expect construction to start at the end of the 2021/22 season.