Silverstone expects to the future

Silverstone has submitted plans to additional secure their futurity that has been described as the most significant in the circuit's 60-year history.

Aylesbury Vale District Council and South Northants District Council last week received a comprehensive outline planning application that will transform the Northamptonshire estate if given the green light.

Silverstone has already experiment a track revamp, and this year the fresh £27million pit-and-paddock complex was unveiled.

Even so, in a bid to get one of the leading venues in the UK, the plan now is for a business park, Technology Park, education campus, three hotels, ancillary retail and spectator facilities that include a Welcome Centre and Museum of Motor Sport, also as a kart track and outdoor stage.

Silverstone Holdings Ltd managing director Richard Phillips said: "This is the most important initiative that Silverstone has taken in its 60-year history.

"Approval of this planning application will help maintain Silverstone's position as a leading global centre for sport, leisure, education and technology, and support its vision of becoming a world-leading motor sport destination."

British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC)

Chairman of the British Racing Drivers Club, Stuart Rolt say: "The submission of this planning application is a big step forward in releasing the commercial potential of Silverstone and its 760-acre estate.

"The timing of this planning application is closely linked into the process we are currently undergoing to seek potential investment from third parties that will enable us to move forward with our plans more rapidly."

Rolt and Phillips both confirmed at last month's British Grand Prix that for the development to succeed, outside investment was needed as they could not support such an important financial undertaking.

It is estimated the development will make around 8,400 permanent jobs in the firms and activities pulled to the site, plus an average of around 550 construction jobs per annum throughout the development phase.