Development recommended for approval
After listening to residents concerns, resubmitted plans by Driveme.net to transform an old airfield in Staffordshire into a state-of-the-art driving experience centre have been recommended for approval by planning officers.
If the multi-million pound plans go ahead at the Seighford site, 120 jobs will be created. Stafford Borough Council planning officers have recommended the proposal, which goes before the Development Control Committee next week and includes a 40 per cent reduction of the main hub building from the previous application.
The revised plans show that the main building is no longer intended for multi-purpose use, only for use with driving experience guests. They also take away the workshop building and any storage provision for local light aircraft users.
As a result, the new plans can also show improved landscaping and increased environmental considerations on the site, with reduced traffic and noise.
Allan Davies, Director of Driveme.net Ltd. said:
“Driveme welcomes the officer recommendation of support. We are determined to continue to be a good neighbour and want to be a facility with which locals feel proud to be associated. As ever, we have listened to everyone”s views and continue to ensure all perceived issues are suitably addressed and managed responsibly.
We are excited by and committed to this investment, which will create 85 new jobs and secure work for 35 existing colleagues, crucial, especially in this economic climate.
Driveme has not taken the decision to invest £8.7 million in Staffordshire lightly and are in this for the long haul.
We are keen to make this development a success, working with the local community to implement a green travel plan and biodiversity action plan, with landscape renewal enhancement and acoustic site management being top of Driveme"s agenda.
We believe we have now addressed everyone"s concerns and are committed to enhancing the area as a destination for visitors from all over the UK, helping the local economy."
The application will be heard before Stafford Borough Council Development Control Committee on November 26, 2008.
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Driveme"s current operations at Seighford are from a collection of portable buildings, in a corner of the airfield. Directors at Driveme are keen to make a positive difference to the old airfield. Their plans include a low carbon, eco-friendly and state of the art hospitality hub, multi-use vehicle tracks, extensive natural sound deadening acoustic bunds, enhanced nature conservation and wildlife habitats & extensive landscaping proposals and more accessible and user friendly rights of way.
Previous plans were for a central hub building able to be used by the local community as a conference and meeting facility, with schools and college involvement too. This will now be limited to schools and college use and education.
(Driveme has already helped the Young Engineers Club at Cooper Perry Primary School in Seighford, Staffordshire test its electrically powered go-karts at the Driveme.net track. Driveme is also holding a series of educational workshops for schools in the area and working in conjunction with Cooper Perry Primary School to establish an educational consultancy regarding engineering construction and safety.)
The location and site will demonstrate a world-class example of building design and low carbon use technology. Eco-award-winning architects White Design are working on the project.
driveme.net Ltd. provides professionally guided driving experiences for the general public and corporate driving days for team building and client invitation. It also instructs less able and partially sighted visitors and young drivers 12 to 16 years old in a safe and fully supervised driving environment.
The driveme.net range of experiences include driving under supervision or being driven in road legal vehicles that include saloon cars, higher powered performance cars and 4×4″s.
Seighford airfield will continue in use as an emergency landing strip and as a base for gliders and light aircraft (but without Driveme involvement here). It has been used for over 10 years for motor vehicle testing, experience and demonstration purposes.
Press Contacts: Marketing Projects T: 01244 330000
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk
W: http://www.driveme.net/driving-experiences-at-stafford.html
Phil Brotherhood Jane Harrad-Roberts
E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk jane@marketingprojects.co.uk
M: 07884 493370 M: 07785 395705
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