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[Jensonb]

Building anything in Britain is a nightmare. Planning laws and short-sighted conservatism on the part of local councils have sounded the death knell for some fantastic projects in the UK. So many British architects have to move abroad to get their work recognised as so little innovation is permitted in British projects

Really?

You're surely not arguing that that...thing is great architecture?

I cited this one in response to your claim that there's little innovation permitted.

I made no such claim.

[darwin dali]

Building anything in Britain is a nightmare. Planning laws and short-sighted conservatism on the part of local councils have sounded the death knell for some fantastic projects in the UK. So many British architects have to move abroad to get their work recognised as so little innovation is permitted in British projects

Really?

You're surely not arguing that that...thing is great architecture?

I cited this one in response to your claim that there's little innovation permitted.

I made no such claim.

Ok, it was gilles' claim (you butted in there ) - on the other hand, I never argued that this was great architecture either

[Gilles 27]

I was speaking purely from an aesthetic point of view...

[darwin dali]

I was speaking purely from an aesthetic point of view...

I kinda like the gherkin, though I've never seen it in person. My mom visited the Burj al Arab and walked around in it. She's still raving about it.

[Gilles 27]

Yeh i quite like the gherkin, beats Canary Wharf, that is fugly.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Racing at embattled Donington Park is back on track, after the 2010 British Grand Prix venue recently lost its licence.

The UK governing body Motor Sport Association rescinded the credential because F1 renovations at Donington reduced run-off at a high-speed section.

But track boss Simon Gillett said at the weekend that planned revisions at the circuit will be inspected formally on Thursday, thus reinstating planned events including the British Touring Car Championship race later this month.

"We are bending over backwards to ensure safe racing is on track at Donington Park as quickly as possible," he is quoted as saying by the Derby Telegraph.

Meanwhile, a track spokesman said the issue was never related to the plans for the Formula One race.

"Work for the Grand Prix in July 2010 has always been on schedule," he insisted.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[scotty]

Hmm, i'm still really concerned about the status of the planning permission, and confused by it too - i thought planning permission could not be rescinded under any conditions once it has been granted.

Still, at least the BTCC race will be on, i think i'll be off to that.

[7UpJordan]

Hmm, i'm still really concerned about the status of the planning permission, and confused by it too - i thought planning permission could not be rescinded under any conditions once it has been granted.

Still, at least the BTCC race will be on, i think i'll be off to that.

Excellent, it's back on and I'll be going too.

[scotty]

Hmm, i'm still really concerned about the status of the planning permission, and confused by it too - i thought planning permission could not be rescinded under any conditions once it has been granted.

Still, at least the BTCC race will be on, i think i'll be off to that.

Excellent, it's back on and I'll be going too.

Nice one! Might see you there, whether i go or not may depend on my poor student mates.

[racechick]

Hmm, i'm still really concerned about the status of the planning permission, and confused by it too - i thought planning permission could not be rescinded under any conditions once it has been granted.

Still, at least the BTCC race will be on, i think i'll be off to that.

Its do with with unpaid rental to the track owners- the Wheatcroft family, owners of Donnington for many years. Wheatcroft will not sign the (section 106 document) its to do with feeholder and leaseholder signatures. If WEheatcroft doesnt sign then the planning is recinded. He is owed £2.47 million in rent so its understandable he wont sign. If he doesnt sign and Gillett looses the contract silverstone are ready to step in . Also wheatcroft himself might take on the GP-he ran Donnington as a European venue in '93.

[EwanM]

Donington 'will stage British GP'
The 2010 British Grand Prix will go ahead at Donington Park despite fresh doubts over the venue, according to the circuit's leaseholder Simon Gillett.

A council meeting on Tuesday evening could revoke planning permission for upgrades to the Leicestershire circuit.

Gillett's company Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd also faces legal action over unpaid rent to the track owners.

But Gillett told BBC Sport: "We are 110% committed to making this happen and 100% confident that it will."

He added: "We have our little trials and tribulations but we are still confident the Grand Prix is coming to Donington next year.

"We know what is going on behind the scenes and there is a lot going on in the background that gives us confidence."

A North West Leicestershire District Council meeting on Tuesday will vote on whether to rescind planning permission that was granted to lengthen the track and upgrade the facilities.

The council gave Gillett's plans the green light in January but the leaseholder still needs to meet the council's demands and prove his development plans are on track.

If the council does not think Gillett is on schedule then they could revoke the permission or give him until 31 May to prove otherwise.

Gillett, however, was confident the meeting was merely a formality and that it would not affect his hopes of staging the British GP at Donington next year.

"The meeting is about Section 106, which refers to agreements after planning permission has been granted," he explained.

"This section is about the way we behave, for example handling transportation for construction traffic and provision for police and emergency services.

"We have negotiated those terms and it is now down to signatures on the document."

Gillett was equally optimistic that his dispute with track owners Wheatcroft & Son Limited will also be resolved in the coming weeks.

It emerged last month that owner Tom Wheatcroft is seeking £2.47m in rent arrears from DVLL, who secured the 150-year lease in 2007, as well as forfeiture of the lease.

"We will be in a position to be able to sort that out very soon," said Gillett, who conceded the Donington development had been slowed by the global economic downturn.

"We are in in-depth meetings to button down the finances and you should see a resolution on this situation soon."

Donington Park secured a 10-year contract to host the British GP at the expense of current hosts Silverstone and is due to stage its first Formula 1 Grand Prix since 1993 in July next year.

Silverstone, which is owned by the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), stalled over signing a new deal and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone was impressed by Gillett's plans to redevelop Donington.

However, Gillett's £100m-development has been delayed by a series of "trials and tribulations".

Firstly, the Motor Sports Association refused to grant the track a safety certificate which led to a cancellation of a number of events.

The debenture scheme to raise private investment was also due to launch at the end of March but has failed to get off the ground.

The legal dispute with the track owners, the council's concerns and the BRDC's insistence the race should return to Silverstone have added to Gillett's headaches.

I'm still working to the mantra that it's Donington or the Grand Prix goes outside of the UK
Donington leaseholder Simon Gillett
Despite the delays, Gillett is optimistic he can meet his self-imposed deadline of 1 April 2010 to revamp the track.

"We have a nine-month construction programme and that has never changed," said Gillett.

"We have always known we could construct everything we have to in nine months but we have the construction in hand.

"We need to be in a position to roll everything out by July 2009 but we are not panicking yet."

Gillett is determined to get Donington ready in time to ensure the British race, one of the sport's oldest Grands Prix, remains on the F1 calendar.

"I'm still working to the mantra that it's Donington or the Grand Prix goes outside of the UK," he said.

"We are here to try and save the British Grand Prix not to jeopardise it.

"At the moment the British Grand Prix doesn't have a home, we have stepped in and given it a lifeboat.

"Without the Donington circuit being available it would have gone already - we are here to make sure it stays here."

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1 ... 034172.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MAD MAX]

Best pay his back-dated lease of £2.5m then eh

[Frosty]

Donington 'will stage British GP'
"We are 110% committed to making this happen and 100% confident that it will."

So there is 10% difference there maybe they are not so certain?

He added: "We have our little trials and tribulations but we are still confident the Grand Prix is coming to Donington next year.

=We have had major problems but we are trying to play it down so the investors don't get scared off!

"We know what is going on behind the scenes and there is a lot going on in the background that gives us confidence."

=We know that we are in a tight spot but were putting on a brave face!

"The meeting is about Section 106, which refers to agreements after planning permission has been granted," he explained.

"This section is about the way we behave, for example handling transportation for construction traffic and provision for police and emergency services.

"We have negotiated those terms and it is now down to signatures on the document."

=They thought we were going to mess up from the start so they made us have this clause in the planning permission in case we failed big time!

It emerged last month that owner Tom Wheatcroft is seeking £2.47m in rent arrears from DVLL, who secured the 150-year lease in 2007, as well as forfeiture of the lease.

"We will be in a position to be able to sort that out very soon," said Gillett, who conceded the Donington development had been slowed by the global economic downturn.

"We are in in-depth meetings to button down the finances and you should see a resolution on this situation soon."

=We have no money to pay him but we are working very hard to find some investors.

[EwanM]

I would like to think Gillett can find someway to pull it off. I've always been hopeful of Donington, and I like what is planned, however if it doesn't work out, I will be very worried.

[scotty]

I have a strong feeling that Bernie will do something to help Donington out...

Hmm, i'm still really concerned about the status of the planning permission, and confused by it too - i thought planning permission could not be rescinded under any conditions once it has been granted.

Still, at least the BTCC race will be on, i think i'll be off to that.

Its do with with unpaid rental to the track owners- the Wheatcroft family, owners of Donnington for many years. Wheatcroft will not sign the (section 106 document) its to do with feeholder and leaseholder signatures. If WEheatcroft doesnt sign then the planning is recinded. He is owed £2.47 million in rent so its understandable he wont sign. If he doesnt sign and Gillett looses the contract silverstone are ready to step in . Also wheatcroft himself might take on the GP-he ran Donnington as a European venue in '93.

Ah, i get it, so technically the planning permission wasn't completely finished then. Thanks!