Work will start on a huge new Northumberland holiday park in a few weeks

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Work will begin in a few weeks on a new multi-million dollar holiday park in northumberlandgiving life to an old open pit coal mine.

Park Holidays UK first unveiled plans for Widdrington Lakes Holiday Park last year, when it applied for planning permission to transform a section of the former Steadsburn strip coal mining site into a holiday destination to join the its sister site on Amble, The Links. The company obtained full planning permission for up to 275 static caravan pitches and 200 all-weather pitches for cars and tents, while gaining general planning permission for a further 475 bases for holiday homes and a cafe.

His plans became possible when he acquired the 300+ acre site last year from Callaly Leisure, spurring plans to add to his existing portfolio of more than 40 sites across the UK. The construction of Widdrington Lakes will take place in phases, with the first phase beginning soon, before construction of the facility overlooking the two lakes begins on the site in autumn, ahead of a planned opening to the first guests on next year.

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The larger of the two lakes welcomes migrating birds every year, so the group is working with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust to protect habitats. The facilities will include a clubhouse, a children’s play area and an indoor swimming pool, which will lead to the smaller of the two lakes. The holiday homes, in a variety of two- and three-bedroom homes manufactured by a Hull company, will have water views and will be developed as the park grows.

The company is also hiring local contractors and local products whenever possible to provide a maximum boost to the local economy.

Recruitment drives will also begin employing staff, including full-time and seasonal staff, in operational and management roles throughout the park. Initially it will take place in conjunction with The Links in Amble teams, who will be involved.

Surface mining came to an end at the site, which is near the village of Widdrington, about 12 years ago, and Tony Clish, director of the growing leisure business, said Park Holidays UK is eager to get started.

He said: “It’s very exciting, I’m a proud Northeaster now in the South, so it’s great to be able to invest in an area I come from, and great, we’re turning what was a vacant lot into something that helps the local economy. and help tourism in the northeast.

“It will take several years to develop, so very soon we will start with the first phase. Some finer details need to be worked out with the local authority, but the intention is to be open to the public from spring of next year.

“It’s a great location because it’s very close to Druridge Bay, so it’s close to the coast, but it’s also inland and very accessible to further up the coast, into Alnwick and the region as a whole. We hope to attract visitors from all over the UK, but also have holiday home owners from the North East to spend their weekends and longer periods, a drive away to get away for some peace and quiet, to enjoy a great location with excellent facilities. .”

“I think that in the next few weeks we will see the start of work. The first stage is laying a new access road, as well as beginning the early stages of construction of the foundations for the vacation homes when they arrive, and then we will begin the early stages of construction of the clubhouse during the fall term. Watch this space, there will be a lot going on.”

The site had previously been the planned location for Blue Sky Forest, an ambitious project that aimed to create hundreds of jobs with an “adrenaline seeker’s dream” that would have included an indoor ski facility, mountain and water sports, and luxury accommodation. . However, the plans did not come to fruition.

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