Developers not in breach of regulations - council

Gaming International is redeveloping Abbey Stadium

Developers are not in breach of planning regulations, an investigation has found.

Earlier this year, Swindon Borough Council investigated whether Robin Gardens - a Taylor Wimpey development - breached rules regarding the redevelopment of Abbey Stadium, Swindon.

The permission granted said the houses should not be built until work on Abbey Stadium was complete, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A councillor said Taylor Wimpey "is continuing the delivery of the final residential phase... leaving just the Abbey Stadium phase".

Gaming International, which is overseeing the stadium redevelopment, has "met the minimums required through the granted planning permission to date, but nothing more," the council review said.

Swindon Borough Council said Gaming International has not made "meaningful progress"

Outline permission, which was initially submitted in 2007, was for a new stadium, business and training facilities, a care home and 450 new homes.

Since then, the permission has been revised a number of times.

Councillor Jim Robbins said: "We are disappointed that to date, Gaming International hasn’t made more meaningful progress on this phase of development to secure a commercially viable speedway facility at the Abbey Stadium.

“We know how much speedway means to the fans, and how much it hurt them for the sport not to return after the successful 2019 season.

“Taylor Wimpey is continuing the delivery of the final residential phase at Robin Gardens leaving just the Abbey Stadium phase to come forward," he added.

“It is now for Gaming International, as owners to recognise the importance of speedway in Swindon and bring forward the final phase for the Abbey Stadium site in line with the existing permission.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Gaming International for a response.