Donington Park Racing, operator of the Donington Park site, is planning to transform the much-loved, 593-acre racing circuit with a raft of development opportunities to bring new investment to the East Midlands.
Castle Donington is seen as a major inward investment opportunity for Leicestershire and bosses are hoping to attract motorsport businesses, hi-tech manufacturing firms, motor-dealerships, entertainment and hospitality activities to an in-field enterprise area within the site. The industrial element will be anchored by Norton Motorcycles.
??Kevin Wheatcroft, chairman of Donington Park Racing, said, “Development of the site would bring benefits to the immediate area in terms of employment and wealth creation for the long term.”
??David Hughes, chief executive of Prospect Leicestershire, said up to 1,500 jobs could be created. “I am confident that development at Donington Circuit will not only put the venue back on the international motor racing map but also create jobs and attract investment into north-west Leicestershire.”
Potential investors are invited to take a closer look at the 80-year old circuit in September during the British Superbike Championship weekend. Companies wishing to move to the site would need to gain planning consent.
Donington Park Racing hopes the redevelopment will help to reignite ambitions to bring Formula 1 racing back to the circuit. The last F1 event at Donington was the 1993 European Grand Prix.
The venue lost a deal to host the F1 British Grand Prix in 2009 after the previous operator failed to raise the £120m needed to upgrade the track. Donington Ventures Leisure collapsed into administration shortly afterwards, owing nearly £5m. Subsequently, refurbishment work was left unfinished, casting doubts over the future of the venue as a racing circuit.
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is advising on the project.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
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