Wooden stadium - first in the world
Forest Green Rovers has selected Zaha-Hadid Architects' wooden stadium design in competition with France, Sweden and the USA among other countries for a new Eco Park in Stroud.
The 5,000 capacity stadium and sports science hub is at the concept stage but is being put forward for planning consent as part of a 100 acre green development. The wooden stadium - the first in the world - aims to be carbon neutral with on-site renewable energy generation. Consent if given is expected in the next few months and the stadium will then be built using ethically sourced wood. Zaha-Hadid Architects designed the aquatic centre for the London 2012 Olympics.
The proposed centre of excellence for sport and green business will create 4,000 new jobs and be the next home for Forest Green Rovers. It is also hoped to be a centre where green business and technology companies come together to share ideas. There will also be public access to a variety of health and leisure activities too.
Sited on the M5 at junction 13, there is the potential for a public transport hub and Ecotricity which is behind the project will help with restoration of the Stroud water canal under the motorway. A nature reserve will be created west of the M5. Ecotricity was founded in 1995 as the world's first green energy company and supplies 200,000 people across the country through a growing fleet of wind and sun parks.