Consultation into housing plans at former Abbey Stadium

The Swindon location was known to generations as the Abbey Stadium.

The proposals, those behind them say, will deliver much-needed new homes for Swindon supported by a modern community hub accommodating commercial, leisure, sport and community support facilities as well as new accessible green spaces, whilst creating jobs and generating investment.

The proposed redevelopment of the former Abbey Stadium is structured across two separate planning applications supported by a shared masterplan.

Proposal 1 will be delivered by L&G and will consist of approximately 130 new homes delivered as 96 houses and 34 apartments. This includes a mix of one and two-bedroom flats and two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses, helping to address local housing need.

The homes will include a range of sustainability and energy efficiency measures, delivering a fossil fuel-free development, built around new accessible green spaces, and connected by a central avenue through the site.

Anette Simpson, Director at L&G, said: “The UK is suffering from a severe housing crisis with a critical shortage of housing supply and increasing demand for high-quality new homes.

“L&G has a proud track record of providing investment in housing and we are pleased to bring forward proposals for approximately 130 high-quality new homes on this sustainably located brownfield site.

“We’re delighted to present our proposals for land at Lady Lane, which will deliver beautiful, safe, secure, and energy-efficient new homes for the people of Swindon in a well-connected neighbourhood.

“The Government has set out ambitious plans to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and L&G’s continued investment into the UK residential market will actively support this ambitious mission for change.”

Proposal 2 covers the northern parcel of land within the site and will be redeveloped as a modern and diverse community hub by Gaming International. The Abbey Community Hub as it will be known will include a variety of spaces with provision for multi-use community space, food and retail units, leisure and sports facilities, and flexible workspaces for independent and micro businesses.

Clarke Osborne, Chairman of Gaming International, said: “We are proud to be working with L&G to deliver this exciting redevelopment which will provide investment, jobs, and long-lasting benefits for residents and the people of Swindon.

“With the permanent closure of greyhound racing in December 2025, the former Abbey Stadium has reached the end of its operational life. It is time to look to the future and reimagine the site as a thriving place of community, leisure, and commerce.

“We are excited to be bringing forward proposals for The Abbey Community Hub, a modern facility designed to serve the whole community. We are keen to hear what potential leisure/sport uses local residents would like to see included on the site and we look forward to working with the community to maximise the positive impact of potential employment opportunities and significant investment into Swindon.

L&G and Gaming International have now commenced their joint consultation on the respective proposals, and feedback from the local community and interested parties is welcomed. The consultation runs until Thursday 8 May 2025.

An in-person exhibition event will take place on Wednesday 30 April at Blunsdon Village Hall (High Street, Blunsdon, Swindon, SN26 7AR) in the main hall from 5pm to 8:30pm

For those unable to attend the exhibition event, the full suite of consultation materials will be available on the project website at www.landatladylane.co.uk, alongside details on how to have a say.

The deadline to submit feedback is 23:59 on Thursday 8 May 2025 - comments received after this time may not be considered.

Following the end of consultation, L&G and Gaming International will consider the feedback received, alongside technical reports and surveys, and respond to the key issues raised prior to submitting respective planning applications to Swindon Borough Council in late spring/early summer 2025.

To engage with the consultation, review the consultation materials, request further information and/or submit their feedback, people can visit the Land at Lady Lane project website at www.landatladylane.co.uk or contact the project team at [email protected].

Anyone who wishes to submit feedback to the consultation can do so via the following methods:

- Email at [email protected]

- Post via FREEPOST TC CONSULTATION (no stamp or further address required)

- Fill out a feedback form online, or in person at the exhibition event