F1 track Silverstone praises plans for a new theme park

The racing circuit, which is just over the Oxfordshire border in Northamptonshire, has backed the new Puy du Fou theme park plans near Bicester.

Silverstone’s chief executive Stuart Pringle described Bicester’s growth as having an “incredibly positive impact” on the local and regional economy in the past few years.

“Silverstone, as the home of British motor racing, has played a supporting role in that story albeit that we are just across the county boundary,” he said in a letter to Cherwell District Council.

Silverstone, just over the border of Oxfordshire near Bicester. (Image: Matt Simpson)

“In Puy du Fou, we see the potential arrival of another international, award winning, long-term investor as yet another very significant step in the much needed local, regional and national growth agenda.

“Oxfordshire is blessed with many renowned world class attractions: Blenheim Palace, Bicester Village, the Cotswolds and Silverstone nearby, to name but a few.

“Having won the attention of yet another significant international success story is a huge deal for Cherwell.”

Mr Pringle said the “spin off benefits” to Puy du Fou will be “very impactful”, as suggested by data shared with him by the theme park bosses.

READ MORE: Fans rally around Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop after major news

He said Silverstone believes the theme park will be a “force for good” by bringing new and diverse employment.

It will also be a “wonderfully colourful and theatrical addition” to the local cultural space, the chief executive added.

“We particularly like their proposal for a best-in-class conference centre attached to one of their hotels which we can see businesses that operate in conjunction with Silverstone viewing with great interest,” he said.

Stuart Pringle, chief executive of Silverstone (Image: Silverstone)

“We strongly support their planning application and encourage Cherwell District Council to do the same.”

As reported, Dominic Hare, the chief executive of Blenheim Palace, has also thrown his support behind the £600m Puy du Fou project.

He noted it for being a “significant strategic opportunity” for Oxfordshire and particularly the Cherwell district.

Puy du Fou, which is an historical theme park that already has attractions in France and Spain, is proposing to build its first theme park in the UK on land north of Bucknell, near junction 10 of the M40.

Silverstone, which has its own festival during the F1 Grand Prix every July, attracted a record-breaking 500,000 people over the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend, making it one of the highest-attended events on the Formula 1 calendar.

Puy du Fou says around 2,000 jobs would be directly made by the park, but estimates a further 6,000 jobs would be created through hotels, restaurants, suppliers and other local businesses.

Overall, park bosses estimate Puy du Fou could generate a £500m a year boost to the local and regional economy.