UWE Stadium - Stoke Gifford Journal

Background

Bristol Rovers FC has announced plans to construct a new 21,700 seat football stadium within the parish of Stoke Gifford, on land currently owned by the University of the West of England (UWE) at its Frenchay Campus.

The site is bordered by the Cheswick Village housing development to the south, the MOD Abbey Wood complex to the north west and the university campus to the north east. Unused land to the east of the site is designated for future use by the university.

The football club has agreed to sell it present ground, the Memorial Stadium in Horfield, to supermarket group Sainsbury’s. Subject to planning permission being obtained from Bristol City Council, the supermarket group will redevelop the Memorial Stadium site to provide a new store and residential properties.

The two projects are interdependent and neither will be able to proceed without the other (money from the sale of the Memorial Stadium will be used to finance the new UWE Stadium).

If planning permission is granted, work on the new £40m stadium would begin in 2013 and last 62 weeks, allowing Bristol Rovers to begin playing there for the 2014/15 season.

View UWE Stadium in a larger map

Public Consultation

Details of the public engagement exercises carried out can be found on the Consultations page of the UWE Stadium website.

2nd consultation (Thursday/Friday 26th/27th January 2012)

Exhibition boards [PDF, 11.5MB]

1st consultation (Friday/Saturday 15th/16th July 2011)

Exhibition boards [PDF, 4.16MB]

“The main issues raised were concerns about transport, traffic and parking and how these would be managed.”

Planning Permission (South Gloucestershire Council)

Application: PT12/0888/F

Received: 9th March 2012; Permission granted (decison notice issued 17th January 2013)

Erection of a 21,700 seater new sports stadium (Class D2) and ancillary Club Shop (500m2), Supporters Club Bar (784m2) and Offices (198m2), with associated Convenience Store (Class A1) (465m2), Gymnasium (Class D2) (1,280m2), Banqueting facilities (Class D1) (1,006m2), Media Study Centre/UWE Teaching Space (Class D1) (2.114m2). Construction of car park (1,000 spaces) and new vehicular access. Depositing of excavated material resulting from construction process, landscaping and lighting.

Useful Links

UWE Stadium Stories in The Journal

UWE Stadium in the Media

What Bristol Rovers have said over UWE stadium announcement speculation
21st April 2017 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers have refused to comment on the speculation among the club’s fans that an announcement is imminent on the club’s proposed new stadium. Rovers and the University of the West of England (UWE) have been in continued negotiations over the sale of a 24-acre site in Stoke Gifford to host a proposed 21,700-capacity stadium as part of a project that was first conceived in 2011. Now it has been speculated an announcement is due on the progress of the project from Rovers following their last game of the season against Millwall.

UWE respond to Bristol Rovers stadium questions
21st February 2017 | Bristol Post
University of the West of England have confirmed they are still keen on doing a deal that would see Bristol Rovers housed in a new stadium next to their campus.

Bristol Rovers chairman Hamer calls for patience as they continue in bid to deliver UWE Stadium
21st January 2017 | Bristol Post
Chairman Steve Hamer has appealed for patience as Bristol Rovers continue to work towards a commitment to deliver a new stadium … Hamer says the club are “doing all we can” to conclude a deal with UWE “sooner rather than later” – but has appealed for an end to continued “public commentary” regarding the plan that was first conceived under the old regime in 2011.

No agreement between Bristol Rovers and UWE over £40 million stadium made yet
13th June 2016 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers and University of West England are yet to reach an agreement over building a new £40 million stadium, it has been announced. Despite no agreement both the football club and university have made clear they are making “excellent progress” and are “working together closer than ever” to deliver a long-awaited new stadium at Stoke Gifford.

Bristol Rovers will get all plans for stadium spot on before next step – Al-Qadi
26th April 2016 | Bristol Post
Wael Al-Qadi says the team he has put together to oversee the building of Bristol Rovers’ new stadium are trying to resolve “a few issues” as they take their time to get the planning phase of the project spot on.

Bristol Rovers suffer crushing defeat in their court battle with Sainsbury’s
17th March 2016 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers have suffered crushing defeat in their battle with Sainsbury’s over a stalled £40million project to build a state-of-the-art new stadium.

Bristol Rovers confirms it will appeal High Court ruling after Sainsbury’s result
18th July 2015 | Bristol Post
We have not yet given up the fight. That is the message from Bristol Rovers to Sainsbury’s after it confirmed today it will bring the case back to court.

High Court judge rules “Sainsbury’s must succeed” in delivering judgment against Bristol Rovers
13th July 2015 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers have suffered crushing defeat in a £30 million High Court row with Sainsbury’s over the future of the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol Rovers to take Sainsbury’s to court in last-ditch bid to save stadium dream
20th January 2015 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers will take supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to court in a last-ditch attempt to save their hopes of building a new £40 million stadium.

Bristol Rovers Stadium could still make 2015 kick-off
14th March 2014 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers could still build their new £40 million stadium in time for the 2015/16 season if they win their court battle over the future of the Memorial Stadium.

Supermarket go-ahead paves way for new Bristol Rovers stadium
17th January 2013 | Bristol Post
Permission has been given for Sainsbury’s to build a new supermarket at the Memorial Stadium in Horfield. The decision by city councillors last night paves the way for the club to build a new £40 million stadium at Stoke Gifford.

Bristol Rovers stadium “could bring massive boost”
15th January 2013 | Bristol Post
Bristol Rovers’ chairman Nick Higgs says a new stadium for the club would bring more than £150 million of investment and hundreds – if not thousands of jobs – to the area. Mr Higgs has spoken on the day before councillors make a decision whether to give planning permission for a new Sainsbury’s store at the club’s current ground in Horfield.

Bristol Rovers fans and directors “delighted” with stadium decision
19th July 2012 | Bristol Post
Supporters and directors at Bristol Rovers are cock-a-hoop that South Gloucestershire councillors have given planning permission for the new £40 million stadium. Meeting in Thornbury, councillors voted 12-1 in favour of the new 21,700-seater stadium on land next to the Frenchay campus of the University of the West of England.

Date set for planning decision on new Bristol Rovers stadium
13th June 2012 | Bristol Post
A date has been fixed for South Gloucestershire councillors to decide whether to grant planning permission for Bristol Rovers’ new £40 million stadium on the northern fringe of the city. They will meet at 2.30pm on Thursday, July 19, at the council offices in Thornbury to consider the issue.

A first look inside Bristol Rovers’ new £40m stadium
9th March 2012 | Bristol Evening Post
This is Bristol Rovers’ vision for the future – a new £40m stadium which chairman Nick Higgs hopes will put Bristol on the footballing map. The exclusive new images show the sleek, low lines of the new 21,700-seater stadium which has been designed to fit in with the surrounding area – and, of course, deliberately coloured blue.

Bristol Rovers submit plans for new stadium in South Gloucestershire
9th March 2012 | Gazette
Plans have been submitted by Bristol Rovers to build a new 21,700 all-seater stadium in South Gloucestershire. An application has been handed in to South Gloucestershire Council for the £40million project on land next to the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Frenchay Campus.

Residents can have their say on proposed Rovers stadium
14th July 2011 | Bristol Evening Post
Residents who live near the proposed Bristol Rovers’ stadium have been invited to drop-in sessions to see the plans and put forward their views. The aim of the sessions is to give residents a chance to take a close look at the plans, ask questions, raise concerns and make comments.

Contracts signed for new Bristol Rovers stadium
13th December 2011 | BBC Bristol
Bristol Rovers has reached a deal with University of the West of England (UWE) and Sainsbury’s so it can build a new stadium on university ground. The football club can now sell its current home, the Memorial Stadium, to Sainsbury’s in order to finance the new stadium at the Frenchay campus.

UWE stadium plans given guarded welcome in South Glos
15th June 2011 | South Glos Post
Bristol Rovers’ plan to build a new 20,000 seat stadium on land owned by the University of the West of England (UWE) have received a guarded welcome by South Gloucestershire Council and local MP Jack Lopresti.

Bristol Rovers proposes move from Memorial Stadium
9th June 2011 | BBC Bristol
Bristol Rovers Football Club is proposing a move to a new £40m stadium near the city’s ring road. The club is based at the Memorial Stadium but attempts to redevelop the site have faltered despite planning permission being granted in 2007. The club is now considering a move to land owned by the University of the West of England close to the Avon Ring Road on the edge of Bristol.

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