Top Gear Test Track being bulldozed to make way for 1800 houses

AMG Power · 4th April 2018, 18:52

Sad news for most enthusiasts and certainly all Topgear fans. The track that gave Motörheads so many memories is being bulldozed to make way for 1800 homes.

Top Gear has used the Dunsfold Aerodrome, an unemployed WWII airfield, to test cars since 2001. Anyone who has watched an episode of Top Gear can remember one of the many times The Stig took a high-powered machine out for a lap on the airfield.

It looks like Top Gear will have to find a new track to play around, as England’s Secretary of State has approved the plan to bulldoze the airfield in order to fit 1,800 homes.

Local news organisations recently reported that the Secretary of State gave the go-ahead on March 29.

“This is a very positive decision,” said Dunsfold Park Chief Executive Jim McAllister. “The development of Dunsfold Aerodrome will provide homes for all sections of the community including young families currently priced out of the area, create new jobs and deliver a range of new community facilities together with infrastructure improvements.”

Speaking of changes, the Top Gear site will get demolished to make way for 540 homes, which the outlet claims will be affordable, along with athletic fields, and a health center. The actual runway will make way for one massive park.

Existing businesses will not be forced out, but will see activity on the runway come to a complete stop. So while it doesn’t say that Top Gear will have to relocate, it doesn’t look like the automotive show will be able to do much testing with all of those homes in the way.

In addition to being the site where Top Gear set lap times and tested cars, automakers, like McLaren with the MP4-12C, also used the track to develop vehicles.

Needless to say, the move was met with resistance. The initial plan for the airfield came out three years ago and the Waverley Borough Council actually approved the application in 2016. However, Secretary of the State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, had to weigh in to make the final decision after three years of discussions.

Source

Hawkeye269 · 4th April 2018, 19:15

Wow, that's a pity... who can forget The Stig - and many a star in a reasonably-priced car - trying to negotiate Hammerhead, screaming flat-out down the Follow-through, and making that right at Gambon just before the lap came to an end?!!

On the other hand, it'd be a pity not to put all that real estate to good use, just hope the redevelopment is done tastefully and serves to provide homes for families to create their own wonderful memories.

To be honest, ever since the rebooted Top Gear moved on and became The Grand Tour (I'm sorry, but Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Eddie Jordan et al just don't cut it for me), it somehow seems oddly fitting that Dunsfold (along with Clarkson, Hammond and Captain Slow) will no longer be a part of Top Gear.

4th April 2018, 18:52	#1
AMG Power Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BLR Posts: 1,065 Thanked: 7,037 Times	Top Gear Test Track being bulldozed to make way for 1800 houses Sad news for most enthusiasts and certainly all Topgear fans. The track that gave Motörheads so many memories is being bulldozed to make way for 1800 homes. Top Gear has used the Dunsfold Aerodrome, an unemployed WWII airfield, to test cars since 2001. Anyone who has watched an episode of Top Gear can remember one of the many times The Stig took a high-powered machine out for a lap on the airfield. It looks like Top Gear will have to find a new track to play around, as England’s Secretary of State has approved the plan to bulldoze the airfield in order to fit 1,800 homes. Local news organisations recently reported that the Secretary of State gave the go-ahead on March 29. “This is a very positive decision,” said Dunsfold Park Chief Executive Jim McAllister. “The development of Dunsfold Aerodrome will provide homes for all sections of the community including young families currently priced out of the area, create new jobs and deliver a range of new community facilities together with infrastructure improvements.” Speaking of changes, the Top Gear site will get demolished to make way for 540 homes, which the outlet claims will be affordable, along with athletic fields, and a health center. The actual runway will make way for one massive park. Existing businesses will not be forced out, but will see activity on the runway come to a complete stop. So while it doesn’t say that Top Gear will have to relocate, it doesn’t look like the automotive show will be able to do much testing with all of those homes in the way. In addition to being the site where Top Gear set lap times and tested cars, automakers, like McLaren with the MP4-12C, also used the track to develop vehicles. Needless to say, the move was met with resistance. The initial plan for the airfield came out three years ago and the Waverley Borough Council actually approved the application in 2016. However, Secretary of the State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, had to weigh in to make the final decision after three years of discussions. Source Last edited by AMG Power : 4th April 2018 at 18:54.
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4th April 2018, 19:15	#2
Hawkeye269 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mumbai / Patna Posts: 142 Thanked: 508 Times View My Garage	Re: Top Gear Test Track being bulldozed to make way for 1800 houses Wow, that's a pity... who can forget The Stig - and many a star in a reasonably-priced car - trying to negotiate Hammerhead, screaming flat-out down the Follow-through, and making that right at Gambon just before the lap came to an end?!! On the other hand, it'd be a pity not to put all that real estate to good use, just hope the redevelopment is done tastefully and serves to provide homes for families to create their own wonderful memories. To be honest, ever since the rebooted Top Gear moved on and became The Grand Tour (I'm sorry, but Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Eddie Jordan et al just don't cut it for me), it somehow seems oddly fitting that Dunsfold (along with Clarkson, Hammond and Captain Slow) will no longer be a part of Top Gear.
	(2) Thanks