FOUNDER of the Stroud-based green energy company Ecotricity Dale Vince has today unveiled an ambitious vision for a massive 100-acre sports and green technology centre near Stroud.

Dubbed Eco Park, the £100 million development located near Junction 13 on the M5 in Eastington will comprise of two main elements.

The first will see state-of-the-arts sporting facilities, including an 5000 capacity all-seater stadium for Forest Green Rovers (FGR), indoor and outdoor training fields, athletics and rugby fields and a sports science hub.

While the other half of Eco Park would include a green technology business park with sustainably built commercial offices and light industrial units, which Ecotricity says could create up to 4,000 new jobs.

The overall concept for the plans also includes the potential development of a public transport hub, including Stroud Park and Ride.

Ecotricity has also pledged to work in partnership with the Cotswold Canals Trust to open up part of the “missing mile” of the Stroudwater canal and build a nature conservation area on its banks.

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Vince, Ecotricity founder and FGR chairman, said: “Eco Park could be a fantastic development for Stroud, a great new home for the club, and a centre of excellence for sport in Gloucestershire.”

He added the new sports ground and training facilities were part of a long term vision for FGR which would help the club to expand significantly in the coming years.

“We’re going to build a very special stadium, something that’s never been seen before in the world,” he said.

“At the same time, it’s going to be a place where green businesses and technology companies come together and share ideas, a real focal point of creativity and innovation for the area – and a part of the green industrial revolution that’s beginning to take off around the world.”

As part of the green technology park Ecotricity, which is the biggest employer in Stroud, also plans to expand its operations and create new office space.

The green energy tycoon continued, “We love Stroud, we want to stay here, and Eco Park will enable us to do that. We have a number of new ideas we’re working on that will need space and will create more jobs – Eco Park is the perfect place for that.”

He added that he was hoping to make an application for outline planning consent in September of this year and said there was still a great deal of detailed work to be done.

“We look forward to working with Stroud District Council, Cotswold Canal Trust, FGR and local residents to bring this plan forward,” he said.

David Owen, chief executive of Gfirst Local Enterprise Partnership, said, “This is a fantastic concept and would have huge benefits for Stroud and Gloucestershire.

He said the location was ideally suited to provide transport links and could see a huge employment boost for the area.

“Like many areas, Stroud has its large share of commuters – talent going out of Stroud for work. Eco Park would be a chance to keep talent and investment in the area, so we’re excited to be involved.”

A SDC spokesman said: “We are aware of Dale Vince’s ambitions for Forest Green Rovers FC to become a major league club and therefore we are not surprised by his plans. We await his application with interest.”

Ecotricity will be holding a number of public consultations over the coming weeks at its offices in Stroud and at The New Lawn stadium near Nailsworth and is keen to hear people’s views.

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