ECOTRICITY'S planned  Forest Green Eco Park in Eastington have taken a step closer to approval it has been announced today.

The company has received a positive official response for their revised stadium plans, from Highways England - and it’s positive.

Green energy giant, Ecotricity, first revealed plans for the £100m Eco park, which will be situated in Eastington just of J13 of the M5, back in 2015.

Now the sports complex is close to being realised after Highways England have responded to the company's application recommending a number conditions be attached to the planning permission.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity owner, said that the response is a "really big step".

"Highways England look after the motorway network, this green light from them is a really big step, several years in the taking. It’s one of two approvals we need - in terms of traffic issues," he said.

"The other is from Gloucestershire County Council Highways Department, they look after the rest of the roads in the County - and co-incidentally, we meet them today to hopefully reach a conclusion.

"We have a possible date for a planning committee meeting of mid to late June. That may move again, but I hope not.

"Traffic issues appear to be the last issue of substance against the development, after the proposed business park plans were scrapped and moved the stadium to the north side as requested by William Morris House, to reduce noise and light impact"

"All being well we’ll start design work on the stadium and new training facilities, in a few weeks’ time," he concluded