Plans for new multi-sports hub submitted to council
It will be located in Wichelstowe
Plans for new sports facilities south of Swindon are moving forward.
A planning application for the Wichelstowe Sports Hub has been submitted to Swindon Borough Council.
The hub is set to be located between Middle and East Wichel and will feature a number of various facilities for sports, as well as playing provisions.
Amanda Woodhead, Community Project Officer at Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Council, said: “I think most people are really excited because obviously Wichelstowe is a big expanding area and Swindon needs more sporting equipment.
“And with Wiltshire FA involved in it, they will probably end up managing this, so it will be an absolutely amazing facility.
“It's also not just about sport. I mean, yes, there is a full-size pitch there. There's going to be a multi-use games area where they could have you things like pickleball or other sorts of organised games like that but also the informal breakout areas.
“Even if you just walk around there, want to get coffee and not into doing any of the fitness or things, that's really good. And the hireable rooms could be for anything – for kids parties, for coffee mornings, there’s lots of opportunities there.
“So, I think that it's a piece of the jigsaw putting some facilities in where there's lots of residential and this is the recreation aspect.”
A public consultation was run by the council, receiving almost 400 responses.
Most of those gave their backing to the scheme - while bringing provisions for sports other than football to the table.
The project will be funded through Section 106 money, meaning it goes from the developers of Wichelstowe to Swindon Borough Council to deliver local infrastructure improvements and facilities.
Simon Russell, the CEO of the Wiltshire branch of the FA, added: "It’s really exciting to be involved in a project that will do so much to support people to be more active - whether that is recreationally or playing competitive football," he said.
“Part of our purpose at Wiltshire FA is to work with any and all stakeholders to deliver improvements to existing facilities or to help with the development and delivery of new facilities.
"However, this is special as we will operate the new sports hub - enabling us to engage more directly with the football family and wider community in Swindon."
While it is unknown when Swindon Borough Council will make a decision on the planning application, Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Council are hoping to “get a spade in the ground next year”.