Former quarry set for new lease of life under leisure masterplan
A FORMER quarry in Staffordshire is set to be transformed into a major new leisure facility complete with 250 holiday lodges.
The 52-hectare scheme for the former Moneystone Quarry near Whiston will transform the site and is intended to lead the rural regeneration of the area.
The scheme has been put forward by Laver Leisure (Oakamoor), which has now secured planning permission for the enterprise following the appointment of Manchester-based HOW Planning.
The site is located within the Churnet Valley Masterplan, an area identified by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council as a location for sustainable tourism and rural regeneration.
The scheme proposes a comprehensive leisure development based around the restoration of the former quarry to include 250 woodland holiday lodges, a leisure ‘hub’ building, outdoor sports facilities, watersports, areas of publicly accessible open space and landscaping, new footpaths, cycle paths and bridleway connections.
The scheme is similar to that implemented successfully in other parts of the UK such as the Cotswold Water Park.
It is Laver Leisure’s intention for the development to be open to the local community as well as guests, with facilities such as a new swimming pool, restaurant, children’s play area and gym.
Jon Suckley, partner at HOW Planning, said: “This has the potential to be a hugely successful leisure development. The overall scheme will open up an area of previously worked land, helping to create new jobs and boost the local economy as well as providing a large number of new facilities for the local community.
“It has also been designed to ensure it has strong links to the wider tourist attractions in the Churnet Valley, ensuring benefits from the scheme are enjoyed in the wider region.”
Peter Swallow, from Laver Leisure, added: “This is a regionally significant and exciting scheme and approval of this application is an important milestone in its development. A lot of hard work has been put into every stage of the process and we are looking forward to delivering some of the tourism benefits that are identified in the Churnet Valley Masterplan.”
Ed Lister, of Planit-IE landscape architects for the scheme, said the scheme was a creative response to a need to improve leisure facilities in the area.
“Quarry features are integrated into the proposals, which create new recreational opportunities in balance with the site’s diverse habitats,” he said.
The project will create around 250 new full time jobs plus construction roles.
The professional team, led by HOW Planning, included Planit-IE and consultant Resolve.
