Rovers stadium plans

Bristol Rovers have submitted the planning application to build a 21,700 all-seater arena on the land next to the University of the West of England’s Frenchay Campus.

Bristol Rovers Chairman Nick Higgs has today unveiled his vision for the future of Bristol Rovers.
After more than two years of planning, consultation and discussion, the planning application has been handed in to South Gloucestershire Council. The club has completed an extensive public consultation process before submitting it’s plans, and has taken into account the comments and concerns raised by local residents and businesses.

Chairman Nick Higgs said:

“This is a hugely important step towards securing the future of Bristol Rovers and is an exciting milestone for everyone connected with the club. This is a fantastic opportunity for the football club and the South West as a whole, which will benefit so many people. We believe this new stadium will not only benefit Bristol Rovers and Bristol Rugby Club, but also the wider community. During the consultation process we have listened to the comments of local residents and businesses, and we have tried to incorporate solutions to the concerns raised within the final application.
We feel we have submitted a very comprehensive planning application, which we hope will be viewed favourably by everyone involved. During the planning process we have looked at trying to bring together the best bits from a number of different stadiums around the country. We would like to emulate the success of clubs like Reading, Swansea and Brighton, who started with a similar fanbase to us, and have achieved great things since moving to a new stadium.
As well as helping to attract new fans, a new stadium can also attract better players, along with more sponsor s and investors, which will help further secure the future of the club.I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get this project off the ground, particularly Arturus Architects, Gleeds, Pegasus Planning Consultants and T.P.A. We have also developed a wonderful relationship with UWE who have been fantastic partners. It has been hard work to get to this point, but if we achieve our planning permission, it will all have been worth it.
This is what we as a club have been striving towards for many years – a purpose built stadium to help the club move forward and achieve success for our historic club."

In June last year, the Club and UWE Bristol announced their aspiration to build a new stadium on land near the University's Frenchay Campus. The move would be financed by selling the Memorial Stadium site to Sainsbury's. A new stadium will not only allow Rovers to build for a better future, it will also act as a boost to the local economy providing community use and employment opportunities.
The plans for the 21,700 all-seated stadium include an extensive club shop, banqueting and hospitality suite, convenience store, gym, jogging track and teaching space.

Bristol Rugby Club has been offered the opportunity to move to the new ground at UWE Bristol, which has been designed to meet all FIFA and international Rugby Union standards.

Subject to planning approval, Rovers could start work early next year, and be playing in the new stadium during for 2014/15 season.