The province of North Holland was allowed to grant the environmental permit to Circuit Park Zandvoort, the court in North Holland has just decided after its own investigation into the calculations. With this, the nature permit will remain in force and the race will not be endangered for the time being.
Environmental organization Mobilization for the Environment (MOB) questioned the calculations of nitrogen emissions during the Grand Prix last year and went to court.
Last August, in the run-up to the race in Zandvoort, MOB lost a preliminary injunction. The judge then determined that the environmental organization and the circuit were too far apart and that an additional expert investigation was needed. This allowed the Grand Prix to continue as usual.
That additional investigation has now been carried out and today the judge has decided that the permit does not lead to more nitrogen emissions. This does not jeopardize the environmental permit.
Nitrogen
The circuit in Zandvoort borders a protected Natura 2000 area, Kennemerland-South. According to the province of Noord-Holland, it would have been sufficiently demonstrated that the nitrogen emissions would not increase with the Formula 1 races. As a result, the circuit received a permit from the province for adjustments, so that the Grand Prix could be held.
Several parties questioned the calculation of nitrogen emissions and therefore went to court. The case has been going on for more than two years.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix will be held on September 4. The nature organizations have already indicated that they will go to the Council of State to challenge the court’s decision.