Aircraft hangar set for electric go-kart centre

A former aircraft hangar is set to be transformed into an electric go-karting centre.

The Grade II listed Hangar 137 at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire has undergone a £4m restoration.

E-karting operator TeamSport has now been given the keys to the 31,000 sq ft (2,880 sq m) site and will start work on creating a two-storey facility featuring a 500m track.

TeamSport said it was a "hugely exciting step" and that it hoped to attract "young talent, grassroots and women in motorsport".

Hangar 137, a former aeroplane shed developed for the RAF between the two world wars, has been restored in time to celebrate the site's 100th anniversary.

The restoration was part of Bicester Motion's environmental, social, and governance strategy, which aims to repurpose heritage sites into businesses that will support "long-term economic activity" for the local community.

The former RAF site currently houses more than 50 businesses operating in the automotive, aviation, engineering and mobility sectors.

Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive officer at Bicester Motion, said Hangar 137 was built at "a defining moment in Britain's aviation history".

He said: "The practical completion of Hangar 137 in its centenary year is a significant achievement for the estate and a powerful example of what heritage regeneration can deliver."

Gavin Adair, TeamSport's chief executive, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have the keys to Hangar 137 and officially begin our journey at Bicester Motion."

The development comes nearly 10 months after a hangar at the same business park was destroyed in a fire that killed three people.