The national sporting body submitted planning application last month to build a 3,000-seater multi-purpose arena, 17 badminton courts, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a health and fitness club, conference rooms and offices at the National Bowl, two miles away from where they are now.

The new facility would be due to open in May 2015.

"This will be a state-of-the-art venue that will bring international competitions to Milton Keynes, and provide a fantastic community sports facility for local people," said Adrian Christy, chief executive of Badminton England.

"We did a 10,000 leaflet drop to houses in the local area and we've had excellent feedback from people excited by the prospect of having such an outstanding facility on their doorstep.

A view of the Milton Keynes Bowl, proposed site for the new Badminton England centre

"We've had great support from Milton Keynes Council, the Bucks LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) and people in the local area.

"It's going to be a truly iconic venue."

However, while Badminton England's plan may have met with enthusiasm from residents near the National Bowl, it has aroused fury among those living near its current site, given the proposal to build 104 new houses on the area of the existing building and on adjoining land currently leased to the Milton Keynes Parks Trust by Milton Keynes Council. 

Local resident Elena Rohman has already collected 122 signatures on a petition of protest from her neighbours in and around Bradwell Road, where Badminton England is currently situated.

And she told insidethegames: "This is just the tip of the iceberg."

She added: "One hundred per cent of the residents I have spoken to object to the proposal. There is not one resident that thinks it's a good idea.

"We do not understand how such a dense development can be planned for land held by the Parks Trust for the enjoyment of the people of Milton Keynes.


"Next to my house there is a plot of land belonging to the Parks Trust.

"As a safeguard against this development, we tried to buy it from the Parks Trust.

"Their response was that they couldn't sell it as it was land for the recreation and enjoyment of the public.

"So how can the Parks Trust be thinking of giving the land over for development?

"It doesn't make any sense to us.

"And if Milton Keynes Council are so keen to keep Badminton England why don't they simply give them a plot of land to develop rather than requiring it to be financed through the development of their current site?"

Milton Keynes, which is 50-miles north of London, announced plans to become an International Sporting City (ISC) in 2011, within a timescale of 10 to 15 years.

"The vision of the International Sporting City will not only create a lasting legacy, it sets our sights as being a major player among other sporting cities in this country." said Christy.

The National Bowl was earmarked as a potential site for a sporting venue in the original Executive Summary for the town to become an ISC, and construction could begin as early as November this year if the application is successful.

Andy Sargent, a member of Loughton Parish Council who lives in Bradwell Road, offered insidethegames a summary of his views on the issue, although he stresses they are to be seen as personal views.

After underlining his support for the proposed new Badminton England centre and its suggested site, as well as the Council's plans for an ISC, he added: "What I cannot accept is the legacy of a horrendous high density housing estate, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, for a location being in the middle of a city."

Another recent view of the area around Lodge Lake

While accepting that the Badminton England site could be sensitively redeveloped, he maintained: "The main objections are regarding the other piece of adjoining land that up until now has been keep as a green space and managed by the MK Parks Trust.

"It is very visible from the nearby Lodge Lake, this being a very well managed area combining a large horseshoe shaped lake built some 35 years ago as one the balancing lakes for the Milton Keynes flood control scheme.

"It is surrounded by well managed mature park land, with a well used trim trail, cycle paths and many places for the public to 'come close to nature' with the large variety of ducks, geese, swans, Great Crested Grebe etc.

"Very popular for families with small children, dog walkers and attractive well used picnic areas.

"It is also a successful venue for pleasure and match anglers being part of the Milton Keynes Angling Associations portfolio of waters."

He added: "The whole of this piece of land is covered in what is known as 'Made Ground' from the spoil when Lodge Lake was excavated and was never intended to be built on."

Among those backing the Badminton England switch, in tandem with the ambitions to create an ISC, is Andy Dransfield, who has a place both on Milton Keynes Council and on Loughton Parish Council, within whose boundaries Badminton England currently exists.

"I very much support  the concept of Milton Keynes as an international sporting city - we call ourselves a city even though we are not one officially," Dransfield told insidethegames.

"I think most towns in the country would jump at the opportunity to have a national centre for a sport such as badminton."


Citing the projects which brought the English Hockey centre and, more recently, saw Milton Keynes Dons FC established in a new stadium, Dransfield added: "Over the years, Milton Keynes has had a can-do attitude.

"It has a history of doing enterprising things.

"I have lived in Loughton for 42 years.

"It used to be a tiny village with two lanes.

"When the first housing estates were built in the parish, people objected.

"When the planning application went through, the people in those new houses then objected when plans were drawn up for more housing.

"And when the next plan came, the same thing happened.

"And when the next plan came, and the next...

"There is a large element of Nimbyism operating here."

Asked how the Parks Trust could contemplate allowing houses to be built on the site, he responded: "The land at Loughton Lodge isn't used for recreational purposes.

"It used to be a piece of land attached to the old farmhouse which now forms part of the Badminton England HQ.

"The farmer used to grow things on the land, and used part of it as a private airstrip.

"It has been built up as a buffer to shield the noise of the A5.

"The land has never been there as parkland.

"It is just being managed by the Parks Trust.

"In recent years the Parks Trust has given land over to building, as it did recently when an Extra Care Village was built at Illen."