Homes could be built on speedway stadium land

BRANDON OWNER SAYS LOCAL RESIDENTS BACK BUILDING MOVE TO ‘IMPROVE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT’

THE owner of Brandon Stadium has revealed it is poised to unveil proposals to build houses on the site of what was Coventry Bees’ home track.

The stadium, which up until this year hosted speedway and stock car racing events, is currently not in use following a long-running dispute over the removal of fixtures and fittings.

The home of the Coventry Bees speedway team since 1928, the Bees were excluded from the sport’s elite league, the SGB Premiership, this season as it effectively had no home.

Brandon Estates bought the stadium in 2015 and the announcement came after travellers set up camp at the stadium last week. The travellers have since left.

A spokesman for Brandon Estates claimed there was support among local residents for the move.

“Brandon Estates have been urged by local residents to build new homes on the site as soon as possible so as to improve the local environment and to end the current unsatisfactory situation,” the spokesman said.

“As a result, Brandon

Estates will be coming forward with proposals for a phased development of new homes on which local residents will be consulted in the usual way.”

Although no planning application has been submitted or a timetable given, Brandon Estates said its announcement was in part prompted by the travellers’ arrival.

The spokesman added: “Following the recent trespass by travellers on the Brandon Stadium site, Brandon Estates has been contacted by residents wanting a long-term answer to this recurring problem.

“The local community is living in fear. Brandon Estates have every sympathy with members of the local community who are forced to endure these problems.”

The Save Coventry Speedway group, a campaign group aiming to bring the Coventry Bees team back to Brandon Stadium, told the Telegraph recently it could potentially back plans to develop the site for housing in the long-term if a move to a new stadium can be secured.

It has said it is prepared to be realistic and accept a new home for the team may ultimately have to be found.

But in the short-term campaigners feel a return to Brandon is crucial if the Bees are to survive.

Jeff Davies, one of the group’s founders, said that while it

remained opposed to developing the site it accepted it may happen ultimately.

He said: ““We are not surprised, we have been expecting it.

“It will be interesting to see if there is any reference on the application to a new stadium.

“Government guidelines say if a stadium is redeveloped than an alternative of at least equal standard should be included withing the plan.

“We want to see a return of the sport to the Coventry area and in the short-term we believe that has got to be the existing site.

“But if they are going to build a new one we would remove our objections to developing Brandon Stadium.”

Following the recent trespass by travellers, Brandon Estates has been contacted by residents wanting a long-term answer to this problem. Brandon Estates