Wichelstowe Sports Hub
Welcome to the consultation pages for the new Wichelstowe Sports Hub.
Located between Middle and East Wichel the Wichelstowe Sports Hub will include formal sports provision as well as provision for play and informal sports activities. The aim is to create a space which serves the whole community and encourages people to get active whether that be playing in a competitive league or just getting out for a walk along Wichelstowe’s canals.
The works will be funded by Section 106 contributions which is money paid by the Wichelstowe developers to Swindon Borough Council to deliver local infrastructure improvements and community facilities. There may also be opportunities to seek grant funding to support scheme delivery and allow a range of facilities to be delivered.
The legal agreement which defines how the funds should be spent, includes details of the facilities to provided on the site including all weather facilities to cater for summer and winter use including floodlighting, pavilion, car park and play areas. The pavilion will include changing rooms and potentially a community space and cafe.
The site is located within Wroughton Parish and the Parish Council are working alongside the Borough Council to develop the plans.
We are at the early stages of the project and the initial stages of the design work have been focussed on understanding the site by carrying out surveys of the site levels, existing trees and hedgerows, rivers and wildlife. We have also worked with consultants BDP to produce some testing layouts to understand what size facilities can be accommodated on the site.
This work has resulted in a suggested spatial layout, with a pavilion, car park and floodlit all-weather pitch to the north of East Wichel Way and grass pitches and the play provision to the south. The land to the east of the plan will be improved to help mitigate the impact the development will have on wildlife habitats and to improve the path network for residents. New drainage infrastructure will be installed including an attenuation basin with the details to be agreed with the Lead Local Flood Authority as well as the Environment Agency due to the presence of a river running through the site.
Before the detailed design work commences and a planning application is prepared we would welcome feedback from local residents as to what they would like to see included at the Sports Hub. We have also been talking to local sports clubs and welcome feedback from those we haven’t yet spoken to.
Feedback can be provided in the following ways:
- Fill in our short survey (around 5 minutes to complete)
- Add your feedback or suggestions to the suggestion box below
If you or your group would like to discuss the Sports Hub in person you can contact us directly at the e-mail addresses listed in the ‘Who’s Listening’ section of this page.
Once the feedback has been collected and reviewed, the design will be developed and the emerging plans shared with the public for comment. Updates will be added to this page and events will be held in Wichelstowe and Wroughton to view and discuss the plans.
