Council seeks opinions on new sports hub

A new Wichelstowe Sports Hub is set be built between East Wichel and Middle Wichel, and Swindon Borough Council is asking residents for their opinions.

The sports hub is mainly funded by contributions from the developer of Middle and West Wichel, which is a joint venture between Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments. The hub is being developed by Swindon Borough Council with Wroughton Parish Council. The initial plans for the development will include a flood-lit all-weather pitch, a sports pavilion and car parking to the north of East Wichel Way, and further, unlit, grass sports pitches and a play area to the south of East Wichel Way.

The area to the north of East Wichel Way was earmarked for sports in the original Wichelstowe Design Code. However the area to the south included in these plans was, in the design code, reserved for ‘Public Open Space and Country Park’.

The emphasis for the sports hub appears to be on football, with no provision for other sports mentioned in the plans, although netball courts, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, BMX/skate facilities, an outdoor gym, and multi-use games area are mentioned in the council’s survey. Entrance to the car parking for the hub would be on Foxham Way, close to the junction with East Wichel Way. The pavilion will include changing rooms and potentially a community space and cafe. This would be in addition to community spaces that already exist in East Wichel and a proposed community centre in Canalside to the south of Waitrose. According to the council, the area to the east of the main sports pitch “will be improved to help mitigate the impact the development will have on wildlife habitats and to improve the path network for residents” though no details are provided of what that ‘improvement’ will be.

Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2026. Swindon Borough Council’s survey is open until mid-January, though no precise date has been given for when the survey will close. Surprisingly, although the plans include options for different layouts at the hub, the survey doesn’t include questions on these. However, residents can provide more detailed comments on that or any other aspects of the proposal on the survey site.