THE public is being urged to give their views on 'revisited plans' for the Ecotricity Eco Park project.

The new proposals for Forest Green Rovers' long-awaited development were revealed in January.

And now Stroud District Council is inviting residents to comment on the plans, via its planning portal.

 

The overall project features an all-wooden 5,000 seat stadium located next to Junction 13 of the M5 in Gloucestershire.

There will also be a new training complex at the site, which will bring the Forest Green youth, academy, women's and first team together.

Outline planning permission for the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed stadium was given in December 2019, but the 'revisited' plans contain details on the land on both sides of the A419.

The new home of Forest Green Rovers will feature a business park with 38,000sq metres of office space as well as 18,000sq metres of industrial space - designed to host companies working in the zero-carbon economy.

The plans also include a hotel with up to 100 beds, and a care village including a 70 bed care home.

And by enclosing the stadium in a parkland setting with more than 2km of new hedgerows, several thousand new trees and wetland, the plans are expected to have a biodiversity net gain of 12 per cent.

The site is also expected to self-generate over 80 per cent of all energy used.

It is believed that the development will contribute around £150m to the local economy each year, and generate £2m per year for Stroud District Council.

You can view the plans, plus supporting documents and drawings, and submit your comments by April 13 by visiting: bit.ly/3ItFVeH

An archaeological dig has been taking place at the site ahead of construction works, and ten skeletons were discovered.

The finds also included Roman coins, pottery and jewellery.

Ecotricity owner Dale Vince also revealed that there is a Roman villa under part of the site.

In a post on social media he said: "There’s a villa under part of the site and it’s a planning condition that we pretty much dig the whole site up and see what’s there.

"Hopefully we’ll soon be digging to make new pitches."