Mott MacDonald’s expertise is helping build a better future for women's football

Mott MacDonald has played a key role in developing new standards for sport stadium design with the Barclays Women’s Super League, published last week. Technical director for buildings, Ruth Shilston, explains why this guidance is essential to delivering facilities that meet the needs of a new generation of football fans.

The success of England’s women’s football team – the Lionesses – taking home the trophy at the last two UEFA European Women's Championship has put women’s football firmly in the spotlight. In parallel, we’re seeing a new group of dedicated followers that are different to the traditional football fan demographic. Women, young people and families are driving record-breaking attendance figures in the UK for existing women’s teams while the emergence of new clubs like London City Lionesses, which have no men’s equivalent, are building fanbases from scratch.

When the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) officially separated from the Football Association in August 2024, it created an opportunity to radically rethink the ways fans interact with the sport. The WSL’s ambition to “build the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women's football club competition in the world” starts with building or upgrading stadiums to reflect the growth of the sport and its specific fan demographic. To deliver this, WSL brought in Mott MacDonald, working in collaboration with AFL Architects and others, to support the development of new design guidelines that prioritise the unique needs and culture of women’s football.

Technical director for buildings, Ruth Shilston, who led Mott MacDonald’s contribution to the guidelines, says: “In June 2026, the top tier of the women’s tournament will be expanded from 12 clubs to 14 and this creates a need for venues that are designed for the needs of modern football fans.

“The aim of the new guidance is to create inclusive, adaptable and sustainable sporting environments that can keep pace with growing demand for the women’s game. Although the guidelines aren’t mandatory, we see them as setting the benchmark for future stadium design.”

The need for the guidance also underlines WSL’s acknowledgment that women’s football matches are more than just games – they are events.

In creating the guidelines, stakeholders were consulted on every aspect of the matchday experience from seating and lighting to dressing rooms, media facilities and even food options. Incorporating acoustic design tailored to mixed crowds, DJ booths and social media zones that enhances atmosphere and engagement, sensory rooms for neurodiverse fans and baby feeding areas all reflect a commitment to designing spaces that meet the needs of all fans.

“It’s not just about building better stadiums, it’s about giving people better experiences,” says Ruth.

As the sole engineering contributor, Mott MacDonald was able to draw on decades of experience at the cutting edge of future-proofed building design, exemplified by its recent work on the UK’s first all-electric stadium for Oxford United. Our expertise in MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), sports lighting, power and ICT were critical to the guidelines. However, Ruth says that her team’s biggest impact was on sustainability and climate resilience. “We know this is a key concern, not only for WSL but also for women footballers themselves,” says Ruth. “In a recent report, 'Women’s Football and Climate Change: The Players’ Perspective', professional players expressed their concerns about climate change and the responsibility of the football industry to be a driver of positive change.”

As a result, the guidelines encourage designers to embed sustainability and climate resilience from the outset, going beyond minimum standards and role-modelling environmental leadership. As well as exceeding the legal requirements for biodiversity net gain wherever possible, new stadiums should promote green practices as “business as usual”. Recommendations include circular economy opportunities, such as modular construction and reusing material, renewable energy systems and smart building design using sensors to optimise energy use according to environmental conditions.

Stadiums are notoriously water-intensive due to the need for pitch irrigation, so water conservation is a key consideration. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and water efficient fixtures, such as low-flush toilets, will help to reduce water consumption, while composting, recycling and eliminating single-use plastics will reduce waste. Climate resilience is also central with measures to mitigate heat stress and flood risk management embedded in design, ensuring that stadiums are ready for future climate challenges.

Mott MacDonald’s work on developing the guidelines was provided pro bono, aligning with the business’s commitments to social value and equity, diversity and inclusion, which was one of the reasons Ruth was keen to be involved. As a woman and a parent to two sports-mad children, the project has personal relevance for her.

“As an engineer, I’m proud to have contributed to a document that will shape the way stadiums are built for decades to come,” she says. “As an employee, I’m excited that Mott MacDonald is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in women’s sport infrastructure. As a parent, however, I just want to be able to take my children to sports events and know that we are all going to feel safe and comfortable.”

While the guidelines are tailored to women’s football, their influence could extend far beyond. As stadiums evolve to meet the needs of a broader audience and a changing climate, the recommendations could become standard across all sports. Women’s football is not just catching up with the men’s game, it’s leading the way.