Supplementary B
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SUPPLEMENTARY B DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATORY BOARD 18TH DECEMBER 2008 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES APPLICATION UPON WHICH THE COUNTY PLANNING AUTHORITY IS CONSULTED BY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL PART A – SUMMARY REPORT APP.NO. & DATE: 2008/1356/07 – Received by LCC on 3rd November 2008 PROPOSAL: New buildings incorporating pits, paddock, media centre, broadcast centre, race control, medical centre, 3 hospitality suites, club house, toilets, temporary grandstands; realignment, widening and diversion of existing track, new pit lane; fuel and tyre area; 1 vehicle access tunnel, widening of one existing pedestrian tunnel, asphalt and gravel run-off areas, hard standing, service roads, barriers, fencing, ancillary trackside development and engineering works. LOCATION: Land at Donington Park Race Circuit, Castle Donington. (North West Leicestershire) APPLICANT: Donington Ventures (Leisure) Ltd MAIN ISSUES: Policy considerations, economic benefits, landscape impact, traffic generation, and other environmental impacts RECOMMENDATION: The Cabinet be advised that views be forwarded to the District Council as set out in the main report, namely that there is no objection to the principle of the development, but a number of concerns arising from the proposals and the subsequent uses arising therefrom. Circulation Under Sensitive Issues Procedures Mrs L. A. S. Pendleton CC, Mr. N. J. Rushton CC Officer to Contact Mr C. J. Noakes (Tel: 0116 305 7053) E-Mail: [email protected] 2 2008/1356/07 – continued PART B – MAIN REPORT Background 1. North West Leicestershire District Council has received this application for major new developments at Donington Racetrack, which more recently has been the subject of substantially additional information. The District Council has consulted the County Planning Authority on this proposal, in the context of the established protocol on developer contributions towards service facilities. However, in the context of the strategic role of the Racetrack and the implications of the development, it would be appropriate to make formal representations to the District Council on the strategic planning matters 2. In July 2008, Donington Ventures (Leisure) Ltd (DVLL) signed a 10 year contract to host the British Grand Prix with Formula One Management, commencing with the event in Summer 2010. This agreement is dependent on a number of physical improvements to the existing facilities at Donington Park, which are the subject of the current planning application. A separate application (ref no 2008/1386/07) is submitted for two temporary grandstands and a toilet block outside the identified Policy L20 boundary. 3. There have been a number of meetings between the agents, district planning authority, highway authorities, constabularies and other key stakeholders for the wider area covering Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The District Council intends to consider the application at a ‘special’ meeting on 8th January 2009, as a matter of some urgency. It is understood that the development is subject to a tight timescale, if the necessary improvements are to be carried out in time for the 2010 ‘season’. Planning History 4. Donington Park has been associated with international motor racing dating from Grand Prix events in the 1930’s, but closed during and after the Second World War. Subsequently purchased by Tom Wheatcroft, a 3km circuit was rebuilt along its pre-war lines (but minus the Melbourne Loop) in the late 1970’s, as a result of planning permissions granted (at that time) by Leicestershire County Council (ref. nos. 76/1293/07 and 78/1845/07). 5. As a result the track reclaimed its international ‘status’, particularly for motorcycle racing. More recently, the circuit hosted the 1993 European Grand Prix, following agreement by the County Council (the CC) to enable this ‘one-off’ event to take place, in contravention of the legal agreement with the CC (only one Grand Prix per year). A Melbourne Loop was added in 1985 to give an alternative 4km circuit, and brought with it the first British Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) in 1987. 6. Conditions attached to the substantive planning consents of the 1970’s allow for motor racing, practice and testing to occur over 40 days per year. The venue now hosts various other racing events and track days (e.g. British Touring Car Championships; British Formula 3 Championship). As such, it could be argued that Donington Park has the necessary consent to run a Formula One motor racing event without modifications to existing facilities. DC®. BOARD 18/12/2008 3 2008/1356/07 – continued DC®. BOARD 18/12/2008 4 2008/1356/07 – continued 7. Following a re-distribution of planning responsibilities in 1981, the District Council became the proper planning authority for new developments at Donington Park. A significant number of individual proposals have been allowed in and around the circuit over the last 25 years or more. Non-racing events include conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, music festivals, etc. Location of Site and Existing Development 8. Donington Park Race Circuit is located immediately west of East Midlands Airport, in the predominantly rural area to the south west of Castle Donington village. The Airport and Race Track are close to the County boundary with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, in the vicinity of major transport links of the M1, A42/M42, and A50. The existing site occupies undulating open land in an elevated position above the Trent Valley to the north, whilst the circuit is located in a ‘bowl’ behind a 3m high concrete wall. 9. Vehicular access is provided from two main entrance points, with the main entrance taken from the C8214 on the east site and linking to the east/west spine road. It serves temporary car parking areas, exhibition hall, circuit offices and Donington Museum. The secondary access is taken from the C9203 at the south-west side of the site, linking to a north/south spine road and serving the pit and paddock area. A number of supplementary crossings on the A453 and C9203 provide temporary access/egress for major events. 10. The main pit and paddock area is situated on a ridge line that runs east/west on this southern side, including 2-storey pit buildings, 3-storey race control tower, 2.5 storey grandstand; 2-storey hospitality suites. A further 3-storey suite is situated on another part of the track. Two bridges cross the track from outfield to infield, including the Dunlop (tyre) Bridge on the main straight. 11. There are a number of other buildings and uses outside the boundary wall on the south-east side of the site, including the 2.5 storey high exhibition hall; single storey museum; 2-storey office block and Coppice Lodge (a Grade II Listed Building) at the entrance to the site. Description of Proposal 12. The (substantive) planning application seeks consent for improvements to the existing circuit, including an extension and realignment of the track and new buildings and infrastructure, primarily within the infield area. An overview of the different elements of the proposed development, together with external sizes, is summarised below: (i) track modifications – to include widening to 12-15m instead of the existing 10m width; resurfacing and realignment of 3km of track (0.95km as a new infield loop) and new pit lane; (ii) 3-storey pit building at the start/finish line of 360m in length, divided into 7 blocks, with pedestrian bridge to race control and administrative area, and paddock club on the first and second floors (lounges, etc); (iii) a single-storey media centre – a two-storey complex up to 9.8m high at the east end of the pit building (also adaptable as conference, small exhibition centre); DC®. BOARD 18/12/2008 5 2008/1356/07 – continued (iv) a two-storey medical centre – up to 5m high and to the east of the pits and in the paddock area; (v) 3- and 4-storey club house building - up to a maximum of 27m high, to provide corporate hospitality facilities with a dedicated 100 space car park. This facility would replace an existing consent (already commenced) for a smaller club house; (vi) 3 separate hospitality suites around the circuit, reaching about 14m in height and comprising one 4-storey 20-unit block; one 4-storey 120 unit block (including pub and public toilets attached at the eastern end; and one 4-storey 56 unit block (including shops, restaurant and bars attached); (vii) ancillary development including a new pedestrian tunnel under the track; some 41,000m 2 of gravel and run-off areas; 122,000m 2 of hardstandings; barriers; walls; fencing; minor huts; service roads; and 4 x single-storey toilet blocks. 13. All existing mature trees and woodlands would be retained and enhanced, in accordance with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Landscape and Woodland Strategy. 14. Four scaffold grandstands would be erected on a temporary basis when required for major events, with a total GFA of 14,659 m 2. Two additional temporary grandstands providing a total floor area of 12,916 m 2 would be located outside the Policy L20 boundary, to the immediate west and south of the track, together with a new toilet block (all the subject of separate planning application 2008/1386/07). This separate application should be treated as part of the overall scheme and any response on the substantive application should be attributed to it as well. 15. Plans and diagrams of the overall proposed development will be displayed at the Board meeting. Supporting Statements 16. The submitted application is supported by various supplementary reports as follows: • Planning Statement (includes inter alia reference to relevant policies; public safety zones (airport); landscape and visual impact; and flood risk); • Design and Access Statement; • Transport Statement; • Noise and Vibration Statement; • Air Quality Statement; • Ecological Statement; • Ground Conditions Statement; • Phase One Geo-Environmental Assessment Report.