Homes being built around Swindon's speedway and greyhound stadium do not break planning rules, an investigation has found.

Earlier this year officers from Swindon Borough Council started a probe into whether the latest tranche of housing being built by Taylor Wimpey and marketed as Robin Gardens was in breach of the planning permissions for the redevelopment of the Abbey Stadium.

The permission granted said the latest housing development shouldn’t be started before a new stadium has been built.

While the stadium has been redeveloped - and has a new stand in place - some of the fixtures, such as pit facilities and kennels are ramshackle at best and do not look ready for the resumption of either sport at the venue.

There appears to be no prospect of races taking place at the stadium soon.

The review, which was started at the behest of council leader Jim Robbins in response to significant  concern by neighbours of the stadium has “found that the work undertaken by Gaming International has met the minimums required through the granted planning permission to date, but nothing more".

The council added: “Outline permission was initially submitted way back in 2007 for a new stadium, business and training facilities, a care home and 450 new residential homes. In the 17 years since, the permission has been through a number of revisions, amendments and redesigns with phases and plots coming forward within the wider permission.

“It is an incredibly complex development."

Councillor 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.

“Our administration was elected to lead the council last year, and at that point, the permissions for the site had been in place for 12 years with speedway already announced as finished at the stadium.”

“Saturday’s opening of the Richardson Road public open space and play park represents the latest phase of the development to be completed.

Cllr Robbins continued: “Taylor Wimpey is continuing the delivery of the final residential phase at Robin Gardens leaving just the Abbey Stadium phase to come forward.

“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 Adver has contacted Gaming International for its response.