LOCAL authorities are predicting international investment in south Northants and north Bucks and rapid development after they gave outline permission for the redevelopment of Silverstone Circuit.
South Northants Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council have now both granted outline permission for the Silverstone Masterplan which includes new offices, distribution facilities, three hotels, new spectator facilities, a museum of motorsport and an educational campus with accommodation.
Circuit owners, The British Racing Drivers’ Club, hope the 20 year masterplan will create around 8,400 jobs and an average of 550 construction jobs per a year. Nearly 5,000 of the new jobs will be entirely new to the area.
Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Holdings Ltd, said: “We are delighted with the outcome and approval of this planning application – this is the most important initiative that Silverstone has taken in its 60 year history as the Home of British Motor Racing. This planning will help maintain Silverstone’s position as a leading global centre for sport, leisure, education and technology and retain its position as a world-leading motor sport destination. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank both Aylesbury Vale and South Northamptonshire Councils, for the way in which the two planning authorities have worked together on this application.”
AVDC leader Michael Edmonds said they had to think carefully in order balance the economic benefits with the impact on public infrastructure such as transport, but in the end reached a unanimous conclusion on Tuesday to support the masterplan.
Mr Edmonds added: “We fully recognise the importance of Silverstone to the local, regional and national economy and are proud to have the circuit within Aylesbury Vale.”
SNC leader Mary Clarke said: “Approval of this Masterplan, which secures major international investment in the future of Silverstone Circuit, is a key strategic decision for this country.
“Development around Silverstone race circuit will now continue at-a-pace, despite the continued economic downturn. Having Silverstone circuit within South Northamptonshire is a source of great pride for us and this is fantastic news for the economy, not just for South Northamptonshire but regionally and nationally.
“The investment in the high-technology sites, as part of the overall development, will also provide opportunities for secondary suppliers and other companies located in the district to benefit from this emerging centre of engineering excellence.”
South Northants MP Andrea Leadsom also welcomed the approval and said: “This development will be good news both for Northamptonshire and for Britain. The fulfilment of the Masterplan will promote Silverstone as a world-leader in the motor sport industry, and will also deliver economic growth and jobs to the local area in the high-performance engineering sector, for which we have an international reputation. I look forward to supporting Silverstone as their plans develop in the coming years.”