Pirates get stadium green light

South Gloucestershire Council have approved plans for Bristol Rovers' new UWE Stadium.

Councillors passed a vote by a margin of 11-1 at a meeting on Thursday afternoon, subject to conditions including the provision of local transport infrastructure and the prevention of uncontrolled on-street parking near the ground. In June last year, Rovers and the University of West England, Bristol revealed their proposal to build a 21,700-seater facility on the Frenchay Campus with funding provided by selling the Memorial Stadium site to supermarket giant Sainsbury's. Speaking at the meeting, Bristol Rovers chairman Nick Higgs said: "This application is a unique partnership between professional sport and education in South Gloucestershire and will bring national recognition to the region, being the first of its kind in the UK. "The development will be privately financed without the input of public finance. In addition, the new stadium will provide much-needed community facilities. "It is essential for the club to develop a new stadium to ensure its sustainable future."