Consultation starts on plans to redevelop speedway and greyhound stadium

Residents are being asked for their views on plans to turn a speedway and greyhound racing venue – the last remaining in the South West – into homes and a community space.

Abbey Stadium in Swindon will host its final greyhound racing meeting on December 30, owner Gaming International announced in March.

There are two separate planning applications for the land at Lady Lane, which is alongside the A419 north of Swindon and has long been regarded as ripe for development due to its proximity to the town’s northern expansion housing estates.

Legal & General has proposed 130 new homes, while Swindon-headquartered Gaming International has proposed a community hub with food and retail units, sports facilities and workspaces.

A joint public consultation has been launched and will close on May 8, with an in-person exhibition event to take place on April 30 at Blunsdon Village Hall.

Legal & General said the 130 homes would comprise 96 houses and 34 apartments, including a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, and two, three, and four-bedroom homes.

Gaming International’s proposal is to redevelop the land into The Abbey Community Hub. The firm has its roots in Bristol, where it owned that city’s greyhound stadium – a large section of which is now occupied by furniture giant IKEA.

It has a track record of redeveloping sports sites and previously owned Poole Stadium – another greyhound racing and speedway venue – through its StadiaUK arm.

Abbey Stadium opened in 1949 as home to the Swindon Robins speedway team, with the first greyhound meeting taking place three years later.

A new 3,000-capacity speedway stadium is being proposed on a greenfield site near to junction 16 of the M4 as a replacement home for the Swindon Robins.