Jubilation as Abbey Stadium housing plans refused
The proposal for 130 homes on site was unanimously rejected by planning committee
Cheering and applause rang down from the packed public gallery in Swindon Borough Council’s council chamber as councillors refused plans to build houses on the site of Abbey Stadium.
Developers. Legal & General Affordable Housing, in co-operation with the site’s owner Gaming International, had brought two linked proposals to the council.
One would have seen the old stadium buildings demolished and 130 houses built on the land occupied by most of the racetrack and the infield.
The other would have seen some of the more recent buildings put up as part of an abortive attempt to redevelop the stadium used as part of a set of community leisure and sports facilities on the northern part of the site, butting up to Lady Lane.
Facilities would have included community buildings, storage, a shop and facilities such as padel courts and cricket nets.
The applicant’s agent Gareth Hooper made much of those facilities, saying they would be put up before any houses were occupied and said: “There could be modern new leisure facilities, replacing an unused stadium, within 18 months of this meeting.”
The plan was also supported by the director of the Swindon Robins speedway team, which has not been able to race in Swindon since 2019, Steve Park. He said the stadium would cost far too much to bring up to standard, and suing it just for speedway was not viable.
He said: ”Refusing this plan will not bring speedway back to The Abbey.”
Mr Park said the best way to have the Robins racing in Swindon again was to back the plan, which would generate the money for a plan put forward by a consortium of the Swindon Robins and Gaming International for a new racetrack and sports venue in Studley Grange on the southern edge of the borough.
But like the residents packing the chamber, local ward and parish councillors and several members of the public opposed the scheme.
St Andrews Parish Councillor Kate Tomlinson said: “This is a pivotal moment. Hundreds of residents oppose these proposals.
“The stadium can be a home for speedway in Swindon and a new sports hub for other clubs and the community.”
Ward Councillor Daniel Adams said: “When public opposition is this widespread, consistent and well-reasoned, the committee must take it seriously.”