Hoddesdon: Breaches investigated near Lewis Hamilton race site

Lewis Hamilton started his racing career on a kart track run by the group that has been refused planning permission

Planning breaches are being investigated at the site where Lewis Hamilton started his racing career.

East Herts District Council said it was investigating the breaches at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon.

Rye House Group, which was refused permission to remove the speedway track and build new sport facilities after submitting plans retrospectively, has been contacted for comment.

The council said it was now looking at options to resolve the breaches.

In a statement, it said: "We are aware of numerous planning breaches on the site, and these are under active investigation.

"We can confirm the track has been removed, but the council is currently assessing options in resolving the breaches on the site."

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, which owns the land, said the site was occupied via a commercial lease, adding: "We are in discussions with the leaseholder about issues relating to the site."

Rye House Rockets speedway team were based at the stadium site but ceased to exist in 2018

Hamilton started his career on the Rye House Kart Raceway, which is unaffected by the plans.

The Mercedes driver was seven when he competed on the track in a kart given to him as a Christmas present by his father.

Neighbouring Rye House Stadium, constructed in 1935, hosted stock cars and greyhound racing and was home to Rye House Rockets speedway team until they hit financial trouble in 2018.

Rye House Group, which runs the karting track, took over the site in 2019 and wanted to build a full-size football pitch, new hospitality facilities and a dance studio.

It submitted a retrospective application for the works in 2021 which was refused in September 2023 by the council after more than 750 objections.

It refused the application because the development is located within green belt land and not easily or safely accessible by pedestrians, cyclists and bus routes.