New plans for a multi-sport clubhouse and artificial pitch proposed to be built near the County Ground have been submitted for planning permission.

The amended application takes on board the comments of local residents, and proposes rotating the pitch by 90 degrees, helping reduce the impact that noise from the facilities would have on the local area.

The proposed clubhouse would be shared by the Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust (FITC) and the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club, as well as being used by other sports clubs in the town.

Jon Holloway, the head of FITC, said: “We have listened to the views of local residents and made every effort to develop a site plan that will have something for everyone.

“Our plan is to create a wonderful new facility that will enable Swindon Harriers Athletics Club and our community trust to further expand and enhance the projects and programmes that are enjoyed by so many local participants.

“A new state-of-the-art facility in central Swindon will allow existing and new participants the opportunity to access these projects and programmes to enhance and benefit people’s health and wellbeing.

“We have been overwhelmed by the vast majority of support that we have received towards these plans and sincerely hope that the planning committee will approve this amended plan.”

Supporting the proposals, Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, said: “I’m very supportive of the revised plans. I think that it would be an invaluable resource, not only for Swindon Town FITC, but also for the nearby athletics track.

“It will offer changing facilities that just aren’t there at the moment.

“I think this would be of benefit to the wider community. I’ve always been a big fan of Swindon Town FITC: many families have had children go through there, mine included.

“I think the revised plans would be of great benefit to the community.”

The new clubhouse, described as a community club hub facility, will replace the old changing block at the site, which was condemned and demolished three years ago.

Alongside the football pitch development plans, improvements to the athletics facilities would have a significant impact on the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club, who have over 400 members.

Club chairman Bryan Clinton said: “The site at the moment is just a track with a couple of little huts.

“We are in desperate need of some sort of changing facilities, a café, or anything like that, for when we hold bigger events.

“We have been crying out for the facility for ages: one that allows the kids and athletes to change and get dry in the winter, and which has a café area where parents can get a coffee and sit somewhere warm.

“As an athletics club it would be very difficult for us to gen the funds to build anything of that sort of standard alone.

“I think it will add greatly to the area.”