More woes for Donington GP plans

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The future of the British Grand Prix at Donington Park faces further uncertainty after a council announced a review of its planning permission.

Permission was granted in January for a £100m revamp of the circuit, including a new pit and paddock complex and extension to the track.

North West Leicestershire District Council said it would review that decision at a meeting on 5 May.

Donington Park said the circuit would be ready in time for the 2010 race.

Permission was granted at a special planning committee meeting at the start of the year subject to a section 106 agreement and it was agreed by Donington Park that this would be completed by the end of March.

It is thought conditions placed at the time may not now be met.

The council has already extended the deadline for signing the agreement by another month - we can't keep extending the deadline for signing the agreement North West Leicestershire District Council

The council then extended that deadline and Donington Park owners now have until the end of May.

The authority has recommended that planning permission is refused if the conditions are not met.

The section 106 covers certain safety and environmental issues, travel and transportation plans and monitoring fees.

Legal proceedings

Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, councillor Richard Blunt, said: "The council has already extended the deadline for signing the agreement by another month, allowing four months in total, and has continued to work with Donington Park to meet the deadlines and terms of the permission.

"We can't keep extending the deadline for signing the agreement.

"Donington Park has already started construction and to allow further, unchecked construction to take place may make the original planning permission invalid and any future control the council may wish to retain over events would be severely diluted."

On Thursday it was revealed that legal proceedings had been issued against the company leasing the track over £2.47m in rent arrears dating back to September 2008.

A Donington Park spokesman said "all the conditions will be met" and it was "still confident that the Grand Prix will take place".

The circuit has a 10-year contract to host the race, starting in 2010.