Berry Industries

On plan, the building is a simple oval bowl, derived to ensure optimum viewing distances oversailed by four curving rooves, each hung from a swooping canted truss. Four inward leaning, tapering tubular towers support the pitch floodlighting and the main roof trusses. These span the full length of each side and are curved at the top and bottom.

The project arose from Bolton Wanderers’ decision to sell its existing ground and move to a site suitable for an ‘all-seater’ stadium. The aim was to procure facilities better suited to the club’s new image in its promotion to the English Premier League, and its supporters’ needs for improved viewing and comfort.

Preevious stadium developments were evaluated in terms of ‘cost per seat’. For this project, individual tenders were analysed against the market norms for comparable construction. Special elements, such as the main roof steelwork, rated at cost per tonne, and more specialised steel such as the floodlights, rated with a cost uplift, using rates acceptable within industry norms.

The architects were appointed in 1994 with the other consultants following over the ensuing months. Planning approval was gained in 1996. Work commenced on site in July of that year, and the stadium was completed and handed over for operation in August 1997. It opened on 1st September 1997.

Berry Industries (M&S Construction at time of project), were on site during the entire project. Services were supplied from Excavation and site preparation to Drainage and Labour supply solutions.

The full list of services provided by us were:

• Concrete works
• Groundwork’s
• Drainage
• Landscaping
• Site Preperation & Stone Prep
• Block Paving & Kerbs
• General Labour Supply
• Logistics & Enablement Works