A SPEEDWAY stadium in Brandon has been saved from the bulldozers after the Planning Inspector upheld a decision refusing permission for the site’s development.
The appeal against Rugby Borough Council (RBC) Planning Committee’s unanimous decision to refuse permission for the redevelopment of the Coventry Stadium site – the former home of the Coventry Bees speedway team – has been rejected.
The Inspector determined that the need to keep the stadium, and its national importance to speedway and stock car racing, outweighed the proposed benefits of the redevelopment scheme.
The application, which was for residential development, open space and a 3G sports pitch, was originally refused by the council’s Planning Committee in November 2022.
The appeal was heard by the Planning Inspector at public hearings last autumn, which included evidence from the council, the appellant, and the Save Coventry Speedway group.
RBC’s growth and investment spokesman Coun Ian Picker said: “I am very pleased that the Inspector agreed with members of the Planning Committee that the benefit of the proposed housing scheme did not outweigh the loss of a historic venue for speedway and stock car racing.
“The Save Coventry Speedway and Stox campaign group deserve enormous credit for the work they put into providing evidence around the viability of the sport and its potential should the stadium site become available again. I congratulate Jeff Davis and his team and thank them for their work with the council over the last few years.
“We will always robustly defend the decisions taken by our Planning Committee and this outcome justifies their judgement in this case.”
Coun John Slinger, who was a member of the the Planning Committee which rejected the initial plans, said: “The true heroes are the dedicated campaigners from Save Coventry Speedway and others, whose efforts made sure this much-loved asset is retained.
“I spoke at the Inquiry last year to put on record Labour councillors’ view that the interests of our Rugby community, and of the wider sporting community must take precedent over the interests of the developer in this case.
“I pledge to work with the campaigners, the local community, my colleagues in the Labour group, Councillors from all parties – particularly Tony Gillias who did so much to fight for the stadium – to work for a brighter future for the stadium.
“We need to make sure that the Council’s new Local Plan is even more robust about protecting these significant community, sporting and heritage assets.”
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/coventrystadium to read the Inspector’s full decision.
