Midlands & East Anglia

New football stadium is almost ready to score

The new Holywell Park Stadium on the Loughborough University Campus is set to become one of the best university stadiums in the UK when it opens in May 2012.

Funded by Loughborough University with a grant from the Football Foundation, the £2.8 million project has seen the creation of a brand new stadium with floodlighting, perimeter fencing and seating for up to 300 spectators.

Facilities include a two-storey clubhouse with clubrooms and changing facilities. The building features split faced architectural block work on the lower floor and larch cladding on the upper floor, along with an aluminium standing seam roof. Built to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, the development has incorporated several sustainable features, including photovoltaic cells on the roof.

Main contractor for the project is Herbert Baggaley Construction Ltd and the architect is Watson Batty Architects Ltd.

Peter Upton, Loughborough University Project Manager, commented:

“This is a much-need facility for our First XI football team, who have progressed rapidly through the football leagues. At the level they are playing the current facility simply wasn’t good enough, and this new stadium will cater for their needs.

“Although the project has progressed well, there have been some challenges – particularly with regards to planning. As the site is located in close proximity of a number of hedgerows, the planners were concerned about the possible effects on wildlife in the area. This has meant that external lighting has had to be carefully designed to avoid light pollution to the hedgerow areas.

“This is a very significant development for us which, as well as providing new facilities for the First XI team, has provided changing rooms to other pitches in the area and created a new focus for outdoor sport on the campus.

“The new Holywell Park Stadium will provide a magnificent new venue for sport at Loughborough which will be the envy of many other universities.”

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