GATES to Swindon Robins’ new stadium may not open until next July according to operators Stadia UK.

It had been hoped that construction would commence before Christmas, but delays have resulted from the design of sounds barriers and utility services.

The detailed plans, also known as reserved matters, are now expected to be submitted before Christmas, with construction work commencing as soon as the plans have been approved.

"We are disappointed that issues beyond our control have resulted in this delay to our expected timetable as we had intended to have the new facility complete in time for the Robins opening meeting in April next year,” said Clarke Osborne, chairman of overseeing holding company TokLon.

“However, even the best-laid plans can be delayed, particularly when there are multiple factors to be considered, particularly the need to build the new facility in close proximity to the existing whilst the existing is fully operational."

Robins owner Terry Russell confirmed yesterday that the club were unlikely to start the 2016 campaign at the new track, despite a farewell meeting to the current Abbey Stadium at the end of the season.

With final plans only going in this month George Edwards, property director at Stadia UK, has said that they are hoping to have fans in the new stadium by next summer and will look to reduce the disruption to fans using the Abbey while work goes on.

"We will be submitting the reserved matters application this month and we hope to be ready for the first customers sometime in July 2016,” he said.

“We have received great support from Swindon council and our team have worked very hard to ensure that the changeover from the existing to the new facility is smooth and easy for our customers.

“There will be disruption during the process but our aim is to keep this to a minimum.”

Unlike Belle Vue’s new stadium, a large part of the new stadium will be constructed away from the site and pieced together at a later stage.

“We are employing the latest building techniques which dramatically reduce the construction time and have ensured that our greyhound and speedway racetracks are built to the highest standards of design, drainage and surfacing,” added Bill Glass, operations director at Stadia UK.

“Uniquely, the new stadium racecourse has been designed for ease and quality of media coverage, from the specification of lighting to multi camera facilities.

“When open, the new Swindon racecourse will be the latest greyhound and speedway racing facility to be built in the UK, following our last new facility which opened in Poole in 1997."