A decision about planning permission for Donington's formula one upgrade has been delayed until next year.

The local council governing the North West Leicestershire site has received the venue's application to enact $175m in renovations ahead of its hosting of the British grand prix from 2010.

Recent reports said the plans could be given the go-ahead by the end of 2008, but the British newspaper Daily Telegraph reports that the decision now faces a delay.

The North West Leicestershire council confirmed that the decision will now be taken only at the end of January, following the necessity for a full environmental impact study.

Should Donington receive the green light on January 27, organisers will have little more than a year to complete the work.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has said that if Donington is not ready for 2010, he will hand Britain's place on the formula one calendar to another country.

A circuit spokesman, however, insisted that the plans are still on track.

"There is no question that Donington's ability to stage the race will be jeopardised by this delay to the planning procedure.

"As soon as permission is granted construction work will begin," he said.

Source: GMM