Tuesday 26th February 2013

Caterham leaves town

Caterham says goodbye to Caterham before expected return to Caterham in due course ... er ...

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For the first time in 40 years, Caterham will no longer have a presence in the home town that bears its name.

The Caterham team bids farewell

The sad development comes as a result of the land on which the company’s showroom currently stands being sold to a builder of retirement flats. The Government’s Planning Inspectorate has already granted planning permission for a retirement home to be built on the site, forcing Caterham to move out, and ending the company’s long-standing relationship with the town.

The showroom stands – for now – on the site of the company’s first-ever factory, which was set up there by the Nearn family in 1973. While production has since moved to a newer facility in Dartford, the original site was retained as a showroom, to handle sales for the south-east of England. This latest news means the company will no longer be a part of the town that’s always been its spiritual home.  

Caterham's Caterham showroom now gone

“It’s a very sad and emotional day for everybody involved with Caterham Cars,” said Graham Macdonald, Caterham’s chief exec. “The town of Caterham will forever be linked with our brand, and I hope residents will still feel that sense of pride when they watch our F1 team on TV or catch a glimpse of a Seven on the road. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the town of Caterham and its residents for their support over the years.”

If all of this has you feeling rather too nostalgic, you could do a lot worse than to assuage your sorrow by blowing a chunk of cash on a Caterham from the PH Classifieds. How’s about a 1700 Supersprint dating from 1996? OK, so it’s on a Q-plate, but it looks cracking shod with Wellers, and has only done 18,000 miles. The 1700 Crossflow is a hardy old lump, and should sound cracking, too. Or if something a little newer floats your boat, how’s about a Vauxhall-engined 2001 model? The 1.6-litre 8V might not sound like much, but it’ll have more than enough oomph and plenty of torque to be an absolute hoot. Of course, if you’re feeling flush, this stunning CSR200 is worth a look. It’ll set you back almost as much as a brand new Supersports R, but you do get a six-speed gearbox and a fantastically grunty Cosworth-tweaked 2.3-litre Duratec with 200hp.

CSR200 ain't cheap, but looks superb

As for Caterham itself, all is not lost – the company’s production facility in Dartford will remain unaffected by the news, while the showroom will soon be moving to a temporary site fifteen miles away in Three Bridges, near Crawley while Caterham searches for a more permanent new home. What’s more, there are still the fruits of the Alpine tie-up to look forward to in the coming months and years. So as sad a day as this is for the company, we’re still encouraged that, on the whole, Caterham looks to be going from strength to strength.

[chazwozza]

Hope they return soon, liked having a nose in if I am ever down that way.
Good luck caterham. stupid flats.

[phillpot]

"Forcing caterham to move out" or they recieved an offer they couldn't refuse?

[Andy ap]

love the way the governement will bend over backwards for the likes of Nissan and VW etc. but they dont give a st about british car manufacturing heritage. At least its retirement flats not a shopping mall. Or does this mean the average speed on the roads will now go in the opposite direction (maybe literally) ; ) ; p

[SpudLink]

phillpot said:

"Forcing caterham to move out" or they recieved an offer they couldn't refuse?

Did they own the land, or was it leased?

[jimbob82]

Andy ap said:

love the way the governement will bend over backwards for the likes of Nissan and VW etc. but they dont give a st about british car manufacturing heritage. At least its retirement flats not a shopping mall. Or does this mean the average speed on the roads will now go in the opposite direction (maybe literally) ; ) ; p

+1 I think its disgraceful. Typical though.

[drewbagz]

I work for a construction company just up the road from Caterham HQ and i must say it is a real shame to see the showroom go, as with it goes part of Caterham town's heritage.

All the best for the future Caterham Cars and let's hope you don't change your name to 'Three Bridges'!!

[Rickrjt]

Was leased, not owned.

[louiebaby]

Just as I put an offer in on a house in Caterham, and prepare to go past the showroom twice a day to the train station, they close it.

st-balls. What's going to be the highlight of my day now?

[drakart]

SpudLink said:

phillpot said:

"Forcing caterham to move out" or they recieved an offer they couldn't refuse?

Did they own the land, or was it leased?

They don't own the site and the LL will have served a S.25 based on "redevelopment rights" (if the lease was within the '54 Act) They couldn't have done anything really, other than look for alternative accomm.

[Baryonyx]

Hopefully the Caterham owners down there will give the folks at the flat what for. Maybe a few convoy drive-by runs in second gear?

No, that would be silly.

[A Scotsman]

Anyone can apply for planning permission even on sites they don't own but that doesn't mean the landowner can be forced to sell their land or property unless the local authority are after it and go for a compulsory purchase deal.

In this case it looks as if Caterham's owners decided the Caterham showroom site was worth more if it was sold for development than it would be if Caterham kept it. Maybe they needed the cash!

[fatboy18]

Prime real estate next to a railway station Someone's made a buck or two!

Down the other end of the High street were boarded up large shops Also ripe for development! Wonder if they made any enquires to move into those premises?

Shame their leaving the Site after so many years.

We will have to associate Caterham with Ann Summers now

[fatboy18]

louiebaby said:

Just as I put an offer in on a house in Caterham, and prepare to go past the showroom twice a day to the train station, they close it.

st-balls. What's going to be the highlight of my day now?

You could always Drive to Kenley station instead going past the Battle of Britan Airfield I kike it up there

[louiebaby]

fatboy18 said:

We will have to associate Caterham with Ann Summers now

Do they have a factory store there???

[fatboy18]

louiebaby said:

fatboy18 said:

We will have to associate Caterham with Ann Summers now

Do they have a factory store there???

BIG industrial unit by Whiteleaf Roundabout

[louiebaby]

fatboy18 said:

BIG industrial unit by Whiteleaf Roundabout

Yeeeessss... But do they have a factory shop there? Or is it just a distribution centre?

[Slickus]

From someone who use to live in Caterham, this is a real shame

[nick_mcuk]

phillpot said:

"Forcing caterham to move out" or they recieved an offer they couldn't refuse?

Exactly the council cant just force you out of your property....so either they we leasing the premises or the company sold it in which case they were not forced out they cashed in the building.

I dont think all the facts are being given here you know!

[drakart]

louiebaby said:

Yeeeessss... But do they have a factory shop there? Or is it just a distribution centre?

No factory shop there I'm afraid!

[Lordbenny]

Caterham is 2 miles from me, showroom and offices had to move as the facility was looking tired and it really didnt suit the new regime/brand. They needed to move but the town should really bend over backwards to get the showroom back there(the Crawley showroom is temporary).

I wonder how long Caterham will be making the Seven for after all this shenanigans?

Maybe this is the time for Caterham to drop the Seven completely and concentrate on their global aspirations of F1 domination and mid-engined Lotus slayers?