Top Gear is on the verge of losing its test track and principal shooting studio after Sajid Javid, England’s Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, finally approved plans to turn the Dunsfold Aerodrome into a residential area as part of the local community’s goal to establish affordable housing in the area. With its iconic race track set to be demolished to make way for 1,800 homes, the show is going to have to find a new home for its studio segments and track tests.

It’s bittersweet to imagine Top Gear having to move homes, but those who have followed this story shouldn’t be surprised. The Dunsfold Aerodrome is a massive brownfield site in its locale that’s still under-utilized, even with the presence of the Dunsfold Business Park inside it. For sentimental reasons, we’re bummed that Top Gear’s iconic race track is going to get demolished. But, it makes sense to turn the park into something that more people can benefit from. That’s just how it is.

“This is a very positive decision,” Dunsfold Park Chief Executive Jim McAllister said in the announcement. “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.”

For those who aren’t familiar, the plans McAllister was referring to started gaining steam back in 2015. The goal was to expand the existing community in the area, including constructing 540 homes categorized under affordable housing. The same plans also include adding parks, sports fields, a health center, and the expansion of the existing Dunsfold Business Park, which currently has over 100 businesses, employing around 1,000 people.

Understandably, the decision wasn’t met without any controversy. According to local media outlet Get Surrey, the plans to overhaul the Dunsfold Aerodrome was met with criticism from local citizens who are worried that the increased population would result in a dramatic change in the day-to-day lives of the people who already live in and around the area. Of particular concerns are potential strains on the local infrastructure, one that could include heavier traffic brought about by having more people living in the community.

As far as we’re concerned, we’re sad that Top Gear’s test track got caught in the crosshairs of this project. But that’s life. The show will find a new studio and a new race track to call its own.

References

Read more Top Gear news.