PROPOSALS to develop the Abbey Stadium and the surrounding land have moved a step closer as the developer submitted a detailed application.

Persimmon Homes has now applied to build the first plot of 66 homes, which will be located off Salzgitter Drive, and the developer has changed its plans to meet several conditions imposed at the time the proposal was originally given the green light.

The detailed application, which will now be considered by the council, will not need to go out to public consultation due to planning regulations.

An application to redevelop the stadium, build 455 homes and more than 16,000 square feet of business space was accepted earlier this year, although a plan has since been submitted to alter this into more homes.

The residential space will be divided into a number of sections which are to be developed at different times.

When the plan was first accepted, several conditions were attached which needed to be met before any building could begin.

Among these was a requirement to show how developers would carry out construction in an acceptable manner.

Other conditions include a water infrastructure plan and a need to show how traffic will be managed during the building phase.

As part of the scheme, a two-metre fence will be erected around the site and work will be kept between the hours 7.30am and 6pm.

The overall development is being run by Gaming International and Landvest Homes who will be looking to develop the stadium once most of the housing has been built.

When the plans were altered to change the business space to more housing, a new car park was added to for use when events are taking place at the Abbey Stadium.

The stadium is home to Swindon Robins speedway team. Greyhound racing is also held there regularly.

Speaking at the time of the plan change, Clarke Osbourne, the chief executive of Gaming International, said: “Under the original proposals some of the matchday parking would have had to go in the commercial properties when they were not being used.

“This is no longer the case.

“The car park which is to built will be extended slightly and we will have parking in the centre of the circuit.”

The development is just one of a number of proposals in the Blunsdon and Abbey Meads area. Work will start soon on Tadpole Lane and several applications have been submitted along the A419.