An electric go-kart track is coming to High Wycombe’s Eden Centre in 2024 and will open until midnight at weekends.
The new circuit will occupy the second and third floors of the former House of Fraser unit, which closed in January last year after the department store chain went into administration.
TeamSport, the UK’s largest indoor go karting company, will operate the new racetrack, which will sit above the new Primark store opening in Eden later this year.
The firm, founded in 1991, has confirmed it will open its doors to racers in summer after planning permission was granted last month.
Eco electric karts will whizz along a 425m multi-floor track connected by a ramp at speeds of up to 40mph with average lap times of 40 seconds.
The new track will welcome adults and children aged eight and above and will feature a restaurant and bar.
Teamsport aims to run its new centre from 8am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and from 8am to 12am Friday to Saturday.
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The firm’s website reads: “Whether you’re planning a family day out, a stag or hen do activity or a corporate event, TeamSport High Wycombe has got you covered.
“As well as thrilling karting, TeamSport High Wycombe will have a range of exciting activities that will make it a destination for family fun. Keep an eye out for more details to follow.”
Teamsport, which runs 35 sites nationally, claimed in its planning application that its latest venture will create up to 30 jobs, likely to be 22 part time and eight full time positions.
Its new facilities will also include toilets, changing rooms, a briefing room, a staff office and ‘other leisure activities’.
The scale of the Eden building housing the go-kart track will remain the same as it is now and no external alterations will be made.
Pedestrian access to the new centre will be from the corner of Desborough Road and Newlands Meadow, and from the car park via a pedestrian bridge.
Planning officers approved the plan for the go-kart track in March, saying in their report that it complied with Wycombe’s development policies.
However, they also noted that there was ‘concern in regard to operational noise from the premises’ and ‘in particular the areas open to air, forming the balconies’.
Officers therefore conditioned the submission of a noise management plan to the council as part of their approval.
This has been submitted and is currently pending approval, prior to the site opening.
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