Swindon Town issue update on training ground developments

SWINDON TOWN have confirmed that a planning application decision on their new training ground is set to be made over the coming months after positive discussions with both the Wiltshire FA and Sport England.

An official statement from the club read:

Applications for the new training ground and nine pitches has been met with positive responses from both the Wiltshire FA and Sport England.

We have been quietly working for the last year behind the scenes with their small team, which includes local specialist consultants, to ensure the most positive outcome for us, as the only professional club in the county.  

The internal need for a permanent training base was, once again, highlighted last week with the first-team forced to train at both Melksham Town and Hungerford Town at the last minute due to the heavy rainfall and lack of access to alternative pitches at Beversbrook Training Facility. 

As well as the club’s need for a training ground to call home, the external needs of the community were highlighted in the recent Swindon Borough Council ‘Playing Pitch Strategy 2016-2021– which references Highworth as having too few pitches. 

Speaking on the developments, Club Chairman Lee Power admitted that work has been ongoing in the background, before stating that the green light for the new training facility is expected to be made in January 2020.

“We have worked effortlessly to secure planning for our development- this has been a huge financial and resource cost with our team working long hours and weekends to meet Local Authority timetables,” said Power. 

“This development has been an extremely complex application, and we are positive we meet all the criteria set out to secure this planning application.

“The current golf club at 12 Oaks is obsolete and dated. It has always been our intention, to take this building and deliver our state-of-the-art training facility, which has so many positive benefits. We hope to see this planning secured in January 2020,” he added. 

“We are delighted to assist the local community, and although this is currently in draft format, once planning has been approved, we will be in a stronger position to commit to schedules.

“In addition to these positive contributions, the facility will also require three new groundsmen and several new staff.  

“If we are able to secure planning visitors to the venue will also contribute to the local economy, bringing footfall and contributions to the local market town of Highworth,” said Power. 

Sport England had the following comment on the application:

“By providing new pitches that could help address established playing pitch deficiencies, the proposal would meet objective 3, and therefore Sport England supports this application in principle.

“I note that ten new employment roles will be created as a result of this development which is to be welcomed.

“Swindon has an up to date and robust Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) which in line with paragraph 96 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Sport England and a number of the playing pitch sports’ national governing bodies were involved in its production and meet annually to ensure it is kept up to date.

“I note that in the PPS there is a deficiency of 3G Artificial Grass Pitches for football across the borough. The applicants are proposing up to 20hrs community use on both natural and artificial pitches, including full weekend use of the artificial Grass pitch throughout the year.

“This will help meet some the required pitch usage identified in the PPS. However, I believe this should be secured by a planning condition. I have had dialogue with the FA who are supportive of the scheme but also feel that there needs to be a condition to secure the community use.”