HOPES are high that after almost eight years of waiting, work will finally begin on building a new stadium for speedway team Swindon Robins, following a flurry of planning applications being lodged with the council.

Two weeks ago Swindon Council gave the green light for 66 homes to be built on Lady Lane and an application for 118 houses in the same area is pending approval by the authority.

Two more applications for a care home and access road have also been lodged with the council.

It is anticipated the money generated from these sales will prompt the long-awaited new development to replace the 60-year-old track at Blunsdon and provide training facilities.

Under the proposals, these homes will mainly consist of predominantly family housing being broken up into 10 two-bedroomed houses, 15 three-bedroomed and 41 four-bedroomed houses.

Developers Landvest PCC Ltd and Gaming International Ltd have split the project, which will see 450 new houses and a care home being developed in 11 phases, with the stadium being built as part of the fifth stage.

The original proposals also included an area for commercial use but the developers have been consulting with the public on changing this to more homes with a planning application expected to be submitted soon.

Chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council, Ian Jankinson, said the developers have been good with consulting with the community.

“This has been in the pipeline for about seven to eight years,” said Coun Jankinson. “They have generally worked with us and have been respectful of our requests.

“I think removing the commercial area would be detrimental to the area. To take away employment opportunities for the people of Blunsdon when they are building so many houses would be detrimental. We need employment for people who live within the parish.

“But the most important aspect is the renewal of the stadium itself which I know everybody wants.”

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