An environmental impact assessment carried out behalf of the Donington circuit, which is scheduled to take over the British Grand Prix from 2010, reveals that noise levels in the area will increase but the boost to the local economy will outweigh the disadvantages of the redevelopment the local council insists.
The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that the South Derbyshire District Council believe that the £100m project will bring benefits to the area and that a final decision on Donington’s planning application is expected next Thursday.
"The development offers substantial economic opportunities,” said Director of Community Services Mark Alflat. “The Grand Prix has the potential to attract both visitor spend and inward investment. New facilities, along with associated developments, will create substantial construction employment opportunities.”
The circuit redevelopment will increase local noise levels the environmental survey suggests but Alflat insists that “there are a small number of areas which could experience notable changes in noise levels.”
The 2010 British Grand Prix will be a car free event with fans taking public transport for the final stint of the journey to the East Midlands venue.
"We are confident we have the planning in the bag,” stated circuit boss Simon Gillett.
Donington Park has until September to cement a place on the 2010 calendar according to Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
Organisers of the event are expected to be granted planning permission to commence $150m in necessary upgrades, but the other outstanding consideration is the securing of the actual funding in the midst of a global financial crisis.
"They have a contract with us that I am sure they understand, and I would imagine they have considered the state of the market and have a fall-back position," Ecclestone, who penned the ten-year contract last July, told the Daily Telegraph.
"I am relying on what they told me they will deliver, and we have a September deadline, from memory, to see that all is as it should be.
found this - and guess what, the only place to watch cars at donington and it looks like no spectating for the craner curves from inside the track (have the rally gb hierarchy been advising on this ??? )
lets hope the lot that built Wembley aren't involved !!
Plans for a £100m revamp of Donington Park, the new home of the British Grand Prix from 2010, have been approved.
North West Leicestershire District Council granted planning permission for the scheme at a meeting on Thursday.
Work can now start on a raft of improvements to the circuit, including track alterations, a new pit area, a club house and temporary grandstands.
Donington Park inherits the Formula One race from Silverstone in a 10-year agreement beginning next year.
Silverstone, in Northamptonshire, has been home to the British Grand Prix since 1987, but Donington Park, just south of Derby, was awarded the contract for the next decade last July.
The council gave approval as long as an event management plan is prepared and approved.
Racetrack owner Simon Gillett said: "This puts us on the world stage with places like Bahrain."
Councillors visited the racetrack prior to the meeting and work is expected to start on the new pit complex immediately.
Donington's development plans put British motorsport back on the map
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone
"We wanted a world class venue for F1, something teams and fans could be proud of," F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said when awarding Donington its contract last year.
"Donington's development plans will give us exactly that, a venue to put British motorsport back on the map."
Now the plans have been approved, Gillett has 17 months to raise the money needed to finance the scheme and put it into action. But he told BBC Sport his team was "confident about all aspects of the project" and would complete the work "to a high standard" ahead of the British Grand Prix in July 2010.
Comment