On 10 March 2026, Swindon Borough Council planning committee rejected a proposal to knock down Abbey Stadium in Swindon, Wiltshire, to build 130 new houses. The decision preserves the venue, which is seen as a major win for community groups.
Planning officers recommended that the project be turned down due to concerns about traffic and the loss of a valuable sporting facility. They also raised issues regarding how people would safely get in and out of the proposed housing estate.
The owners of the site, Gaming International, had argued that the stadium was no longer suitable or profitable for racing. Despite these claims, the committee decided that the negative impact of losing the stadium outweighed the benefits of building the new homes.
A community group called Swindon Needs Speedway (SNS) led the opposition to the development, arguing that the stadium is a vital part of the local area. The council’s choice to reject the demolition means the site will remain a sports venue for the time being.
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