Plans for Royal Docks could see London host Grand Prix
Plans have been unveiled which could see the redevelopment of London’s Royal Docks and pave the way for Formula 1 to race in the capital for the very first time.
The proposals put forward by LDN Collective and Dar aim to transform the docks into a globally recognised destination for sports, leisure and entertainment.
The development would see the 10m embankment extended by a further 20m for a total of 2.7km stretching from ExCel to the University of East London, creating 48,140 sq ft of waterfront land.
Through the creation of 28 movable and flexible floating modules, the waterside space could be expanded to accommodate a total of 70,790 sq ft of community space alongside the embankment.
Should the site receive approval for Grand Prix racing, the dockside park can be disassembled to reveal the Formula 1 grade surface, while the floating units would be transformed into grandstands, food and beverage outlets, and entertainment facilities.
Although Great Britain has hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix every year since its inception, it has never been home to a street circuit, which are becoming increasingly occurrent on the racing series’ calendar. Formula 1 would follow in the tyre-marks of electric racing series Formula E, which has hosted three ‘E-Prix’s’ at ExCel London along the Royal Docks.
Max Farrell, chief executive of the LDN Collective said: “This vision could do for the Royal Docks what the Olympics did for Stratford and the Lea Valley. By extending the promenade we are creating a flexible eventscape and by creating floating commercial uses we are making the proposal financially viable and deliverable, without the taxpayer footing the bill.”
