Council Gives Go Ahead For Silverstone Development Brief
| Published: 15th April 2008 11:29 |
South Northamptonshire’s Cabinet last night (Monday, 14 April) gave the go ahead in principle to planning guidance that will shape the future development of Silverstone.
However, the development brief will only be finally adopted if the British Drivers’ Racing Club (BRDC), can prove that they can only fund their plans for a new pit and paddock complex though an ‘enabling’ development which includes between 130 and 190 new homes in Silverstone village.
Aylesbury Vale District Council, which also covers the circuit, has already approved the development brief in principle.
The brief sets out clear guidelines about what development would be acceptable at the circuit and sets standards for the development that any prospective developer will be expected to follow when submitting a planning application. It includes an education campus, a new business park, hotels and restaurants and a welcome centre with a museum.
The Council is using consultants Knight Frank to carry out an independent study of the financial case BRDC has put forward. If they conclude that BRDC can pay for the development by other means than the enabling development, including the housing, then the brief will need to be looked at again.
At the Cabinet meeting last night, Councillors considered the advice of Knight Frank on the financial information supplied by the BRDC’s advisors and concluded that the case had not yet been made for the enabling development including the housing at Silverstone village.
Councillor Andrew Grant, who chaired last night’s Cabinet meeting, said: “We have worked closely with BRDC and Aylesbury Vale Council on these plans for a long time.
“We’ve always been very proud to have the British Grand Prix in our district and we know that it brings a significant benefit to the local economy so we want to do what we can to help maintain Silverstone’s role as a world class motor sport facility.
“The development brief is an important document that will be used in conjunction with our planning policies to guide any development at the circuit, However, it is important that any development on this scale must be done properly which is why we want to be absolutely sure that BRDC need the housing and other development to fund the pit and paddock facilities.”
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