New Bristol City stadium would be sunk into the ground
A new stadium for Bristol City FC would be sunk into the ground to help minimise the impact on people living nearby.
The Evening Post exclusively revealed the latest images of the new £65 million stadium at the weekend.
Architects, consultants and experts on a wide range of issues which deal with planning matters have been drawing up a scheme that meets the needs of the area – not just the football club – for the past 15 months.
A planning application has now been formally submitted to the city council and North Somerset Council which must decide whether to give their backing.
Ian Cawley, development director for the stadium project, said he had been in constant touch with council planners since the scheme first reached the drawing board.
He said: "We have done an awful lot of work to get to this point, where we meet the needs of the club, the people who live nearby and the regeneration of the area."
He said one of the priorities was to make sure that residents in Silbury Road were not overshadowed. To this end, the new stadium would be sunk in the ground to reduce its impact on the area.
Mr Cawley is confident that a deadline can be met to reach a decision on the stadium plan. The city council must give its verdict before November 6.
That is when the council must hand in its bid to the Football Association to stage World Cup games in the city.
The FA hopes to win permission from FIFA to host the World Cup tournament in 2018.
Comments will be taken right up until the planning application is discussed by councillors – probably at a specially-convened meeting in October.
The sheer size of the application and the fact that the stadium would be built on greenbelt land means that a final decision will have to be taken by the Government Office for the South West (GOSW).
But Mr Cawley said the important issue, as far as the FA was concerned, was to see that the city council backed the plan.
If the stadium goes ahead and the FA wins the World Cup bid, then tournament games could come to Bristol. This could bring £100 million to the local economy.
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by Matt, South Bristol
Friday, July 17 2009, 12:40PM
“I love these sections where people can comment! Once again all City fans have been proven right the Rovers fans seem to know more about City than there own club! Im a City season ticket holder, but I could not state Rovers home crowd average or even name their team! Us City just dont care about Rovers...But Rovers fans are so obsesed with City its brilliant! Get back involved with your own club Rovers fans and stop being so hung up about City...”
by Jonboy, G-Land
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 5:05AM
“The fact is that if BCFC were trying to get this off the ground from an existing stadium I would be right behind it. As it is Mr Lansdown is attempting to blackmail the council into passing planning consent for a stadium and a large unrequired superstore by pressuring them with public opinion whipped up by the miniscule possibility of a World Cup pool match or two. Thanks but no thanks Mr Lansdown.”
by mark, bristol
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:12PM
“Desmond .....your a moron”
by Desmond, Easton
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:06PM
“yer like alex and all da nerds on eer keepss goin on bout all of stats bout bristle citay do dey hang rund templ meeds ore sumfink.”
by tom ritchie, ashton
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:44PM
“Hardly showing the same ambition in the transfer market as with the new stadium.”
by bighands, bristol
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:09PM
“i take it the unimpressive summer signings and signing a 32 year old midfilder is a sign that SL is happy to tread water until the new stadium is built!”
by Richard, Knowle
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:21PM
“Gas 65
Here's the reality.
The new stadium planned 30,000 is less than twice city's average attendance in a stadium that will only at best allow 17,000 home fans to attend, included in that 17,000 are seats with restricted views and single seat availability
(not desireable).
An additional temporary expansion to 42,000 is a possibility should it be needed.
All new grounds so far have resulted in an increase of attendances.
Using the same ratio Rovers should only build a ground of 14,000, Won't your 7,000 look silly in an 18,000 stadium.
That's reality.”
by mark, whitchurch
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:04PM
“alex,southmead
A worthwhile comment about Amy but unfortunately its wasted as she will be in bed now ready for school.Amy also pokes fun at the name of Warren and yet has a lifetime name of a 4 year old
Lets hope when she is old enough to go to football matches she decides to stay in and make cakes instead”
by alex, southmead
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 7:56PM
“Amy, Bath, sorry i did not relise this was a site on gramer. i thought it was a place to put my views across. veiws that are correct by the way. maybe thats why you red lot are poking fun instead of coming up with a response worthwile.”
by gas65, whitchurch
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 7:41PM
“Take a reality check city fans
Your average crowd last year was 16,800 and this was the season after being 1 goal away from the premier league
Your going to look a bit stupid in a 40,000 stadium.
Please dont insult gasheads and non football fans that its a bid for bristol as we all know its not.The BCC video has no images of rovers or Bristol rugby or Gloucestershire ccc.”