Plans lodged for holiday and leisure development which could create 250 jobs

Laver Leisure has submitted a reserved matters planning application for Moneystone Park near Whiston in Staffordshire to build a holiday and leisure development which will see the transformation of the former Moneystone Quarry.

Outline planning approval was secured in 2016 for the proposed development of up to 250 lodges, alongside a range of leisure and recreation facilities.

The detailed reserved matters application is for the first phase of development, which will see 190 lodges built along with a number of associated leisure facilities.

Once fully-developed, Moneystone Park will create around 250 full-time permanent jobs, plus around 230 further jobs during construction.

Laver Leisure has agreed an Employment & Skills Charter with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The Charter contains initiatives specifically designed to enable local people and businesses the opportunity to benefit from the opportunities created by Moneystone Park. A particular focus will be encouraging the local supply chain of goods and services and showcasing local food and drinks and other nearby attractions, including pubs and restaurants.

Peter Swallow of Laver Leisure said: “Moneystone Park provides a rare opportunity to help diversify the local economy and deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits for the local area. The development will directly provide around 250 much needed jobs, with a further 230 jobs created during construction.

“Currently, fewer than 7% of Staffordshire’s 24 million annual visitor trips include an overnight stay. Moneystone Park will promote a range of overnight and short stay holiday options for visitors, which will boost the local economy by providing another option to retain tourist spend in the area. Indirectly, we expect up to 78 full time jobs will be created elsewhere in Staffordshire Moorlands as a result of Moneystone Park, through visitor spending, wages and use of a local supply chain.

“The development will be an attractive and sustainable recreation facility open to visitors and to the local community. This Reserved Matters planning application is a major step towards making Moneystone Park a reality.”

The Reserved Matters planning application covers the first phase of development and provides the detailed proposals for 190 lodges, along with a number of associated leisure facilities including a hub building with swimming pool, gym, restaurant and café with terrace, play areas, a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and associated car parking and landscaping.

A separate full planning application will also be submitted shortly for permission to refurbish the former laboratory buildings on the site to provide other indoor leisure uses.

A second phase of development will come forward in due course. Moneystone Park will also provide connections to a local network of nature trails, bridleways and footpaths.