Agenda item

Donington Park Race Circuit Donington Park Castle Donington 

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Councillor A C Saffell, Ward Member, addressed the meeting. He reminded Members that the previous application had only been permitted on a temporary basis to assist with the financial issues and that now the track had extra race days, Moto GP and Formula E, the auction days should not be required. He stated that the application should not be permitted as policy L20 did not apply and that the yellow and orange would be visible. He informed Members that they had been told that the community would see significant benefits from the auctions, but nobody in the area ever knew when the auctions were taking place. He asked Members to refuse the application.

Mr C Tate, applicant, addressed the meeting. He advised Members that the organisers of the auctions had chosen Donington Park due to the good transport links and the available hard standing. He informed Members that the delivery and removal of the goods had very little impact on the community as all the HGV drivers were briefed on routes and speed limits, that visitors to the auctions spent money in the area and that as a race circuit alone, Donington would not be viable, but the estate as a whole could be. He added that the auctions allowed jobs to be created, it was a diverse use of the site and he urged Members to support the application.

Councillor D J Stevenson stated that he had been suspicious when the original application was submitted but he was aware that not one complaint had been recorded by Planning or Environmental Health in relation to the auctions. He added that on race days there were brightly coloured plant vehicles, lorries and motor homes as far as the eye could see.

Councillor J Bridges agreed with Councillor D J Stevenson. He added that it was good to see a company with more than just one string to its bow and that the Council needed to back the application 100%.

Councillor M Specht queried the size of the storage area, should it read 0.2ha or was 2.2 ha correct, and sought clarification on what would be stored there.

The Principal Planning Officer stated that the storage area would be 2.2ha in size, which was almost 50% of the site and it would be used to store plant and machinery similar to what was to be sold. He advised Members that it was proposed to include a condition stating there would height limitation of 7m for non auction days and 18m on sale days.

Councillor J Legrys stated that he welcomed the application but felt that Members should have been given the opportunity to visit the site when the activities were taking place. He added that it was good diversification which created jobs.

The Officer recommendation was moved by Councillor J G Coxon, seconded by Councillor L Spence and        

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Regeneration.