Brandon Stadium, home of Coventry Bees, 'has been sold'

[dutchman]

Stadium housing plan refusal to be reviewed

A decision to stop a speedway stadium becoming a housing development is to be be appealed at a planning inquiry.

Rugby councillors refused planning permission in November for 124 homes on the Brandon Stadium site; formerly home of the Coventry Bees.

Brandon Estates then launched a bid to challenge the decision on the Rugby Road stadium, located between Binley Woods and Brandon.

The inquiry is set to start on 19 September.

The Bees stopped racing at the site, which is currently derelict, in 2016 after failing to reach a deal to compete there.

The application, refused by Rugby Borough Council, had been recommended for approval and featured a football pitch and clubhouse as well as the homes.

Campaign group Save Coventry Speedway and Stox, which has led the fight against redevelopment, said there was a buyer waiting in the wings to revive the stadium.

It was expecting to "formally participate in the appeal process", it said in a statement.

"We can assure everyone that we will be working to ensure that the inspectorate is provided with all the facts required such that the decision taken by the members of the planning committee at Rugby Borough Council, and supported by an overwhelming majority of the general public, is upheld on appeal," it added.

Councillor Tony Gillias told BBC CWR the planned homes were "not wanted".

"The land has been lying redundant now since the sports were evicted in 2016 and the communities are saying to me 'we want it back'."

[dutchman]

Old Coventry speedway stadium demolition plan rejected



Plans to demolish a speedway stadium in Coventry for housing have been thrown out by a planning inspector.

Brandon Stadium's owners want to build 124 homes and a football pitch with pavilion on the site off Rugby Road.

The Coventry Bees stopped racing there in 2016, after failing to reach a deal to continue.

Inspector Helen Hockenhull said she was "not persuaded there is a clear case that the site is surplus to requirements or is no longer needed".

Some of the issues she considered were whether the housing would have a greater harm on the green belt than what was already there, whether the stadium should be deemed as surplus to requirements and the financial viability of restoring the stadium.

She also looked at whether there was a need for the 3G football pitch, whether the pitch's inclusion would outweigh the loss of the stadium, and other benefits of the plan such as the extra housing.

It is the latest chapter in a long-running and complex process of plans for the derelict site being considered and rejected by Rugby Borough Council.

Planning permission for owners Brandon Estates was unanimously refused by councillors in November 2022.

The company then appealed against the decision at planning inquiry last year.

In her written judgement on Friday, Ms Hockenhull said: "Whilst speedway has declined to the extent that it is now a minority sport, I do not consider it is dying. The same is true for stock car racing.

"There is demand for Coventry Stadium demonstrated by SCS [campaigners] and supporters in the racing community."

She said it was clear there was financial backing for the racing scheme, with parties expressing interest in establishing a consortium if required and general support from the council and the mayor of the West Midlands.

Despite being convinced that the 3G pitch "would be of significant local benefit", Ms Hockenhull ruled it should not be waved through at the expense of the stadium.

"I therefore conclude that the benefits of the alternative provision do not outweigh the loss of Coventry Stadium," she said.

Campaigners "warmly welcomed" the verdict as they and the council consider what happens next.

The decision, which backs the council's earlier refusal of the plans, means that any attempt by Brandon Estates to prepare a new plan would be judged against this ruling.

[dutchman]

Deadline passes for speedway stadium appeal



A decision to stop a former speedway stadium being demolished for housing has been rubber-stamped after a deadline passed for an appeal.

Campaigners confirmed no legal challenge had been put forward by Brandon Stadium's owners Brandon Estates to a planning inspector's decision in January.

The owner's six-week window for an appeal to the High Court has now lapsed.

Save Coventry Speedway and Stox (SCS) said in a statement they were delighted to mark "the end of this particular part of the process".

Plans for 124 homes, a 3G football pitch and pavilion at the derelict former home of the Coventry Bees speedway team were refused by Rugby Borough Council in November 2022.

Planning Inspector Helen Hockenhull threw out Brandon Estates' subsequent appeal as she was not persuaded the site was surplus to requirements or that the value of a 3G pitch outweighed that of a community stadium.

In their statement, SCS thanked sporting and community members who helped with legal costs and spoke in support of the stadium at the inquiry.

"Your honesty and passion shone through under difficult scrutiny and it is sincerely appreciated," the statement continued.

“There is now much for us to consider, doubtless with further meetings to be arranged over the coming weeks.”

It now remains for Brandon Estates to choose what to do with the land.

SCS added it retained an "unstinting commitment" to bring speedway and stock car racing back to the stadium.