Northamptonshire's £12m state-of-the-art aerodynamic testing tunnel could also be a Sunday family cycling spot

Part of the tunnel is already being used for testing. Picture by Beth Walsh Photography.

A state-of-the-art Northamptonshire testing facility designed for the world's top supercars could also be opened as a family cycling spot.

The Catesby Aerodynamic Research Facility (CARF) is set to open in mid-2021 and will breath new life into a disused railway to create a testing tunnel for high-speed vehicles.

But plans are also underway so that when it's complete, the three-kilometre high-tech tunnel could be opened to public on Sunday's as an attraction.

Members of the key stakeholders involved in the project pictured outside Catesby Tunnel. Picture by Beth Walsh Photography.

Managing director of TotalSim Ltd Rob Lewis, who is helping to oversee the renovation, says it is his hope that families, cyclists and walkers will also get to enjoy the research centre in Daventry.

He told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's my mission. I will push very hard to open it in some sense to the public.

"I think it would be a way to bring a bit of cash in by letter members of the public use it rather than just letting loud race cars use on Sundays.

"There are some insurance and liability hurdles to clear but I hope it will be one of the things we will get to offer."

The £12m project aims to create the research centre using the disused three-kilometre long Victorian era Catesby Tunnell

It is hoped the tunnel will be used a world-leading testing centre for research in aerodynamics and emissions, and could include technology for testing wind and simulated weather.

A new £4 million Research and Innovation Centre is also being built on the site, with the aim of enabling high-performance technology start-ups and early growth businesses to locate next to the testing facility.

The building was given planning permission by Daventry District Council last May. The council acquired the disused tunnel from the Secretary of State for Transport so it could be leased to Brackley based firm Aero Research Partners (ARP), who are behind the project.

The proposed two-storey centre will include offices, seminar space, café, and workshop which are proposed as a hub on the site of the tunnel and associated research and technology park. It is anticipated 13 full-time and 35 part-time staff will work at the building

The overall scheme at Catesby has attracted a £6.2 million investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured through the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).