Community Sports Facilities – Update

Application made for New Community Sports Pitches and Pavilion on The Common

As part of Crest’s commitment to deliver public open space and playing pitches within Tadpole Garden Village, proposals have progressed for sport pitches and a pavilion/community facility on The Common open space area. Crest is seeking to create a focal point for sporting and community activity in the village by co-locating the community facility alongside the sports pitches, providing the opportunity for changing facilities to also be delivered as part of a community ‘hub’.

The design for the pavilion is proposed to reflect Tadpole Garden Village design whilst being in the style of the familiar architecture of village sports pavilions across the country, creating an attractive entrance to the village across The Common.

It is intended that, once Crest has constructed the facilities and the pitches have established themselves, they will be transferred to the TGVCIC, enabling the CIC to generate an income stream for the future. Crest Nicholson has set out to provide facilities on The Common that enhance and add value to Tadpole Garden Village for its long term success.

We have had many questions raised recently by members of the community in relation to these proposals and set out to address some common queries below.

We hope the answers set out below address many of the questions raised but should you have any further questions please direct them to Mark.Foyle@Crestnicholson.com or pop along to a drop in session we have arranged for Wednesday 4th July from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy.

Q: What is happening down on The Common?
A: As part of Crest’s s.106 legal commitment to deliver public open space and playing pitches at Tadpole Garden Village, an application has been submitted to get the details of the proposed sports provision and community facility approved by Swindon Borough Council.

Q: I thought it already had planning permission?
A: Planning permission for the development of Tadpole Garden Village was granted in outline, with some matters reserved for detailed consideration at a later date. These included the detailed setting out of the sports pitches on the Common and the associated welfare facilities. An application was made in 2016 for playing pitches on The Common but the details of the pavilion remained to be agreed. Revised proposals were submitted in June 2018 to incorporate the pavilion and to add more junior/mini football pitches and additional details to the other football pitches.

Q: What facilities are proposed?
A: The Reserved Matters application provides for two senior football pitches, four junior/mini football pitches, a cricket pitch and a pavilion building to provide washing and changing facilities, toilets and a dedicated community space.

Q: I heard FC Abbey Meads will be taking over the pitches and pavilion, is this true?
A: Discussions have taken place with FC Abbey Meads about the granting of a long lease that would enable them to use the playing pitches and pavilion to host football matches and to provide a home for the Club as they grow as part of the Tadpole Garden Village community.

Q: Will the public be able to use the pitches?
A: All of the playing pitches will be openly accessible to the public when organised matches are not being played. The main senior football pitch will have a 1.2m timber post & rail fence around it which is to control access to the pitch during matches but which will not restrict public access otherwise. In addition, a 7m high de-mountable fence will be provided to stop balls from straying into the car park area. This will only be in use during matches and will be removed otherwise.

Q: Will my community group be able to use the pavilion and/or the pitches?
A: Yes, the community room in the pavilion and the pitches, with associated changing facilities, will be available to hire with proceeds returning to TGVCIC for the benefit of the community.

Q: Who will own the pavilion and pitches?
A: Once the pavilion and pitches are established, they will be transferred by Crest to TGVCIC. All income from the lease to FC Abbey Meads and any third party hire will be returned to the CIC for the benefit of the community.

Q: There are floodlights on the plans, these weren’t mentioned before …
A: In order to allow the opportunity to create the best, most useable facility possible, the Reserved Matters application requests permission for floodlighting to the main adult football pitch as a means of future-proofing the facility in the event that FC Abbey Meads or another team who take on a lease is promoted the National League. Currently, the funds are not available for the installation of these floodlights and FC Abbey Meads are not close to achieving National League status, so they may not necessarily be delivered at all. However, in the event that they are delivered in the future, they have been designed so as to limit light pollution in neighbouring residential areas.

Q: I read that there will be 25 matches a day. Where will everyone park?
A: It is expected that far fewer matches take place on an average day and that 25 is a likely maximum; obviously not all matches can take place at the same time and will be staggered throughout the day. 128 parking spaces will be provided adjacent to, and nearby, the pavilion and cricket pitch. This includes 122 standard spaces, four disabled spaces and two spaces for mini-buses. The highways authority has not raised any concerns with the application in respect of the parking capacity proposed.

Q: Where can I see the plans and comment?
A: The plans and associated documents are available on Swindon Borough Council’s website at https://www.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/ under application reference S/RES/16/1022. The formal consultation period has now closed, however comments can still be sent to sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk quoting the application reference, up until the application is determined.

Q: What will happen next?
A: Swindon Borough Council will consider the plans and any comments received and determine the application accordingly. Further news will be published in the ‘village news’ section of the Tadpole Garden Community website https://tadpolegardenvillage.com/.

A further Reserved Matters application for a storage pavilion and welfare facilities on the Eastern Common, located adjacent to the junior pitches, has also recently been submitted; the application reference number and details of how to comment will be published on here once the application has been registered with Swindon Borough Council.

Q. We knew about a youth football club being involved, will men’s teams be using the facility too?
A: Both adult and youth football will be using the facility.

Q: Will there be further consultation with residents?
A: The plans and associated documents are available on Swindon Borough Council’s website at
https://www.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/ under application reference S/RES/16/1022. The formal consultation period has now closed, however comments can still be sent to sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk quoting the application reference, up until the application is determined.

WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY – DROP IN SESSION FOR RESIDENTS
A drop is session to answer questions is also taking place on Wednesday 4th July from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy.