Donington Park Wins Planning Extension

Troubled Donington Park, the proposed future home of the British F1 Grand Prix, has won a reprieve after being handed an extension to the end of June to satisfy planners over proposed upgrades to the circuit. 

Councillors handed leaseholder Simon Gillett a month’s extension to clarify his plans for developing the track.

Gillett’s company Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd also faces legal action over unpaid rent to the track owners.

But Gillett stated: ‘We are 110% committed to making this happen and 100% confident that it will. We have our little trials and tribulations but we are still confident the Grand Prix is coming to Donington next year.

‘We know what is going on behind the scenes and there is a lot going on in the background that gives us confidence.’
 
North West Leicestershire District Council gave Gillett’s plans the green light in January but has now made it clear that unless certain crucial agreements are signed by 30th June then the planning permission regarding the planned £100m redevelopment will be revoked.

Before the development can get the go-ahead, Gillett needs the signature of circuit owner Tom Wheatcroft, and the leaseholder is optimistic that their dispute will be resolved in the coming weeks.

It emerged last month that Wheatcroft is seeking £2.47m in rent arrears from DVLL, who secured the 150-year lease in 2007, as well as forfeiture of the lease.

‘We will be in a position to be able to sort that out very soon,’ said Gillett, who conceded the Donington development had been slowed by the global economic downturn.

‘We are in in-depth meetings to button down the finances and you should see a resolution on this situation soon.’
 
Donington Park secured a 10-year contract to host the British GP at the expense of current hosts Silverstone and is due to stage its first F1 Grand Prix since 1993 in July next year.

Despite the delays, Gillett is optimistic he can meet his self-imposed deadline of 1st April 2010 to revamp the track.

He said: ‘We have a nine-month construction programme and that has never changed. We have always known we could construct everything we have to in nine months but we have the construction in hand.

‘We need to be in a position to roll everything out by July 2009 but we are not panicking yet.’