Bristol Rovers announce new stadium plans on site in South Gloucestershire

The new 20,000 all-seater arena would be on land acquired from the University of the West of England on its Frenchay campus.

The proposed stadium would be equipped with state of the art facilities, including a large supporters' club bar, an extensive club shop, banqueting and hospitality suite, convenience store, crèche, gym, jogging track and approximately 19,000sq ft of potential teaching space for the University.

The deal is dependent on Rovers selling their current ground, the Memorial Stadium at Horfield, to Sainsbury's to ensure funding for the new project is in place.

The overall development of both sites is worth in the region of £60 million.

The new stadium will be a bowl design, which makes use of the sloping ground to minimise the height of the structure and the impact on the local skyline, and reduce light and noise pollution.

The new stadium would also benefit from close transport links, including the A4174 ring road, Abbey Wood and Parkway train stations and various bus services. The club said there would also be a large car park with space for 1,270 cars and coaches, with additional overflow spaces available on the campus if necessary.

Rovers chairman Nick Higgs said: "I am delighted to be able to announce our plans for a purpose built stadium on land adjacent to UWE's Frenchay Campus.

"Negotiations on this project have been going on for nearly two years, in tandem with our plans to develop the existing Memorial Stadium site.

"We have looked at several sites in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, but we felt this land ticked all the boxes to allow us to build the best possible stadium for Bristol Rovers.

"This is a development of regional significance to South Gloucestershire, Bristol and the wider community.

"We feel that we have developed a design that is sympathetic to the area and utilises the topography of the land to good effect.

"With the support of the two local councils we feel we can bring this exciting project to fruition very quickly.

"This is what we as a club have been striving towards for many years - to have the finances in place to construct a purpose built stadium to help get the club moving back in the right direction."

The stadium and its recreational and non-recreational facilities would also be available for the students and local community to use on non match days, and the university believesit would enhance the current 'student experience' as well as creating an extra income for the club.

Students would also be offered a range of casual employment opportunities on match days, as well as the chance to buy discounted match tickets.

Staff and students would also be able to use the large car park, which would be used to replace a temporary car park that is currently used by UWE.

Professor Steve West, Vice Chancellor of UWE, said: "UWE welcomes this exciting strategic agreement which will bring tremendous benefits to the University, students and the local community.

"The agreement makes UWE the first university campus with a 20,000 seat stadium in the UK putting it on a par with many international universities, and we believe this will have long term value for everyone involved.

"The team at UWE and at BRFC have worked hard to forge an agreement that delivers real benefits to students and the wider South Gloucestershire community, as well as fulfilling the club's aspirations and supporting the university's long term strategy.

"The development would bring much needed employment opportunities to our region as the stadium is constructed as well as ongoing employment as the stadium operates.

"Importantly the scheme is designed to deliver an identified need within South Gloucestershire's Spatial Planning Strategy."

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Sainsbury's has had long-standing aspirations to open a new store and improve customer choice in the area.

"We are pleased to confirm that we have an agreement with Bristol Rovers Football Club regarding an opportunity for a new store and other development at the Memorial Stadium, subject to the Club securing a relocation site.

"The proposal, which is subject to planning permission, would help to fund the club's move to a new stadium and, in addition to a store, create a mix of work space, community facilities and housing.

"We will keep the community and our customers up to date and, following completion of the club's final agreement on their relocation site, we will bring forward proposals in consultation with local community."

Bristol Rugby Club have also been offered the opportunity to move with Rovers, and the ground would conform to all FIFA and Rugby Union standards.

Subject to planning permission, Rovers could start work early next year, and be playing in the new stadium during the 2013/14 season.

All parties aim to work with the local communities and welcome feedback on both developments. Consultation on both sites will get underway in the coming months.