World's first all-wood sports arena to be built in the UK

Forest Green Rovers FC, the English fifth-tier club known as "the greenest team in the world", has received approval to build the world's first environmentally positive football stadium. The ambitious project, which will seat 5,000 spectators, will be made entirely of laminated timber.

Recognized by FIFA as "the greenest football club on earth", Forest Green Rovers has earned this reputation through initiatives such as sports equipment made from recycled plastic and coffee grounds and the introduction of an exclusively vegan menu at matches. What's more, the club has been designated by the UN as the world's first carbon-neutral sports organization.

Forest Green Rovers are getting a timber stadium
The clubs says it will be environmentally friendly - and the go-ahead has been given to demolish their current stadium to make way for 95 homes. pic.twitter.com/N0G7nkJcJcSc

- BBC Gloucestershire (@BBCGlos) December 4, 2024

"From small acorns grow mighty oaks," Colin Peake, the club's Life Member and Chief Executive, told Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire. The development, which includes demolishing the current site and turning it into sustainable housing, is the fulfillment of a 20-year dream.

An ambitious project for the future

The new stadium is part of a wider project called Eco Park, initiated by Dale Vince, the club's owner and founder of Ecotricity - one of the UK's largest renewable energy providers. The project shows promise:

• Creating 4,000 jobs in the green technology sector
• Increase biodiversity by 20% compared to current levels
• Possible expansion of stadium capacity to 10,000 seats

Why wood? A £100 million stadium

Designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, the stadium will be a world first in the use of sustainably sourced laminated wood. According to The Architect's NewspaperFrom the structural walls to the exterior cladding, grandstands and floors, wood will be the dominant material in the construction.

"It's not just a formal choice, but a desire to create elements traditionally made of steel or concrete," explain representatives of the architectural office. "The laminated wood offers exceptional durability and safety, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the stadium."

The project aims to preserve the rural character of the area while integrating the new stadium as a focal point for the club and the local community. Improved accessibility and modern facilities will support the club's aspirations of promotion to the Championship, England's second tier football league.

This initiative demonstrates the extraordinary potential of wood in large-scale modern construction and sets new standards in sustainable architecture for sports facilities.