Sustainable synthetic turf field Bath a UK first

7 Mins Read

June 2, 2025

The University of Bath has opened what is called the first sustainable synthetic turf field in England. All components that constitute a synthetic turf system, are fully recyclable. Planning for the field started as far back as 2005.

By: Guy Oldenkotte

The university campus is located on the outskirts of Bath, within the western fringe of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). The campus and construction site is within the World Heritage Site, and a conservation area lies to the immediate east of the campus. All of these matters were carefully considered and addressed in the scheme proposals through the design of the pitch layout, lighting specification and mitigation, the retention of the boundary vegetation, and the provision of landscaped buffers.

The University committed to achieving a 10% biodiversity net gain through the implementation of a comprehensive landscape and ecology scheme which responds to the Landscape Ecological Management Plan for the campus and the Management Strategy for the wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The boundary vegetation has been maintained and a wide landscaped buffer provided with significant new native shrub and tree planting and areas of enhanced grassland. The landscape enhancements ensure that the scheme sensitively responds to the application site’s landscape setting, enhances foraging and commuting habitats for bats, and delivers biodiversity enhancements.

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