Luxurious holiday lodges could be set up as part of a "fantastic" Nottinghamshire attraction. An outdated building at the National Water Sports Centre could be demolished and replaced with 10 holiday lodges overlooking Holme Pierrepont Country Park, if Rushcliffe Borough Council approves new plans.
The lodges will be used as luxury holiday accommodation aimed at users of the existing facility and families looking for a relaxing and peaceful place to stay, according to planning documents. The facility would be managed by More Leisure Community Trust, an independent not for profit partner of National Water Sports Centre operator Serco Leisure, which aims to promote exercise and activity.
The current structure on the site is still currently used as holiday accommodation for visitors, but has ongoing maintenance issues and is looking “tired”. The existing facility, which was labelled "limited" in a planning document, already sees high demand during events and the redevelopment would increase provision.
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Councillor Jonathan Wheeler, ward representative for Gamston for the Conservatives on Rushcliffe Borough Council, supported the goal of attracting more people to the attraction, but said he would need to examine the proposal in more detail. "I very much support bringing more people to the area, and the economic benefits of visiting the National Water Sports Centre, which is a fantastic facility that we have in the borough. It's right next to the Skylarks Nature Reserve as well, so it's a really excellent area and the County Council has set up multi-use cycling and walking routes between Holme Pierrepont and Cotgrave Country Park.
"It's a fantastic location to visit, and in terms of the application I will be consulting with my residents and the parish council, who can comment on the application. I will be making my comments once I've had those conversations, but the premise of attracting more people to the location is something we should encourage."
Those behind the plans said the project would "provide an increase in steady income" to the site, which could be spent on improving other areas. Planners added this would be of "much greater benefit" than funds being allocated to ongoing and future maintenance costs of the existing building.
The site is accessed via the existing facility access on Adbolton Lane, and is heavily screened by trees, shrubbery and landscaping around it. Nottinghamshire County Council's highways department has raised no objection to the plans.
The project's designers have said the lodges have been arranged to reduce overlooking, but maximize visitors' views of the area. Another aim of the plans is to encourage social interaction and involvement through the use of shared paths and areas for people to unwind.
In a planning document, agent Lincs Design Consultancy on behalf of applicant More Leisure Community Trust, said: "Socially and economically the proposals put forward present a brilliant opportunity for the applicant, and the existing site, to further promote a successful facility and its surroundings whilst creating the opportunity to further promote investment and possible growth.
"The proposals respond to the changing needs of the site and their users and offers a better environment for them to stay in. In doing so, allowing the existing facility to grow to further guarantee its future." The planning application is pending consideration by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
