An exciting leisure opportunity with Ribble Valley Leisure Limited

The site has full planning (detailed below) for an outdoor activity centre, with head office building (approx 430sqm) and associated infrastructure. The superb location and proposed facilities will attract visitors seeking a fun, adventurous and good quality outdoor activity experience. The proposed activities detailed can be developed further and there is also an opportunity for temporary events. The site totals approx 19 acres of woodland, and approx 3 acres adjacent pastureland set in the Ribble Valley, an area acclaimed for its natural beauty.

Indicative concept sketch

Planning Permission Details (Ref 3/2012/0578)
The site received planning consent in December 2012 for the development of an outdoor adventure centre to include:
1) TREETOP AERIAL ADVENTURE COURSE
2) SEGWAY COURSES
3) BAREFOOT TRAILS
4) CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE TRAIL
5) SUPPORT FACILITIES, TO INCLUDE;
Cafe, ancillary retail, customer service facilities. Parking for 50 cars, 5 coaches, and bikes / motor cycles.

Location
The site is located in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, within a one hour drive of major conurbations such as Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Lancaster and the Lake District. It is within 2 miles of Junction 8 of the M65 and situated on Whalley Road (A671) in Read.

Target Market
The site owners envisage the site will attract a wide range of different visitors;
1) FAMILIES
This will form the majority of the weekend and school holiday business.
The facilities will be suitable for families of all ages with a full range of activities.
2) CORPORATE
The facilities and space available creates an opportunity to use the site for the corporate market.
3) SCHOOLS
The site will cater for school trips for children to enjoy the facilities. In addition, there will be educational trips based on the historic woodland and environment.

Terms of Sale: On Application to PSL

For further information please contact:

Planning Solutions Consulting Ltd on 023 9248 1999 or email consulting@pslplan.co.uk

Contact Kevin Brown or Richard Linington

Caveat: Particulars prepared are to give guidance at time of design/printing. It is the responsibility of the interested party to verify for themselves. These particulars do not form part of a Sale Contract or Operator Contract owing to the possibility of errors and/or omissions. Prospective purchasers/ operators should therefore satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their correctness. Any fixtures, fittings, chattels and other items not mentioned are specifically excluded unless otherwise agreed within the Sale/Operator Contract documentation. The property/site is also offered subject to rights of way, public footpaths, easements, wayleaves, covenants and any other matters which may affect the legal title. Distances and areas are approximate. The Agent has not formally verified the property’s structural integrity, ownership, tenure, acreage, estimated square footage, planning/building regulations’ status or the availability/operation of services and/or appliances. Therefore prospective purchasers are advised to seek validation of all the above matters prior to expressing any formal intent to purchase or enter into an operator agreement. Planning Solutions Consulting Limited will not be liable in negligence or otherwise for any financial or other loss arising from the use of this information.

Working with Wavehill Planning Solutions Consulting carried out an evaluation of the local impact and value for money of seaside town projects and programmes within the five Strategic Regeneration Areas along the coast of Wales.

The research included carrying out a review of examples of best practice, an analysis of recent regeneration programmes and we also set out recommendations relating to the different types of intervention that the Welsh Government should focus on to maximise impact and value for money for coastal town regeneration projects.

The following recommendations are being used to inform the Welsh Government’s regeneration framework:

• Develop a robust baseline of evidence on coastal towns and communities;
• Develop a sophisticated management information system to capture outputs, outcomes and impacts;
• Consider increasing the Coastal Communities Fund ‘pot’ for Wales and back major investment plans that have a ‘catalytic’ effect;
• Improve the sharing of lessons between public agencies, stakeholders and other partners; and
• Develop a dynamic visitor offer associated with ‘place-making based on local assets and distinctiveness.

You can read the report: An Evaluation of Current Practice in Relation to Seaside Town Regeneration

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few months. We are pleased to report that we have been working on several really interesting projects. These including working with an existing farm park advising on a future development strategy through to working with the Welsh Assembly Government and Wavehill Consulting carrying out an evaluation of current practice in relation to seaside town regeneration. We have also just completed an Audience Development Plan, Interpretation Plan and Visitor Management Plan for Monmouthshire County Council at Caldicot Castle and Country Park.

Study to investigate the impacts of Organised Recreational and Challenge Events across Cumbria a very interesting report.

Produced by our sister company Onboard TV.

Coastal resort towns are facing a number of challenging including:

Physical isolation
Changes in tourism trends
The seasonality of the seaside economy
Frequent high levels of deprivation
A range of housing issues
Declining town centres
Issues concerning coastal erosion
Demography – ageing and transient populations

Appropriate tourism development can play an important role in helping to create a sustainable coastal economy. A number of destinations have used small scale interventions such as the East Beach Cafe in Littlehampton which have had a significant positive impact in terms of raising the tourism profile and attracting new visitors. At Coastal Regeneration we were recently invited to present our thoughts about sustainable coastal tourism development at the Devon Maritime Forum.

Open water swimming  or ‘wild swimming’ can refer to any natural body of water, i.e. rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, either in lakes or the ocean.  Open water swimming is becoming an increasingly popular sport, either individually or as part of the booming sport of triathlon. It is important to realise, even if people grew up training for competitive swimming in the pool, there are aspects of open water events that necessitate adjustments in the activity. Dedicated enthusiasts require specialist training routines and race strategies.

One Wild Swimming participant recently posted in Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine – “One lake was so crystal clear that I simply sucked up water when I needed a drink, rather than heading for the support boat.”

Swimming, by its nature is a low impact, medium intensity work out, enabling a cross-section of ages to take part. Those who typically go on a swim trek holiday may be anything from teenagers to the retired, alone or with a friend, experienced open water swimmers or those unfamiliar to being outside the swimming pool.

We are increasingly working on direct visitor research projects. We use a range of research techniques to engage with visitors, tourists and members of local communities including:

• Online surveys
• Face-to-face interviews
• In-depth interviews
• Visitor surveys
• Forums
• Workshops

Here a link to the new service Visitor Research.

One of of projects we carried out research into the craft centre sector (including site visits and benchmarking) in the UK. Our work identified critical elements which lead to the introduction and operation of a financially sustainable craft centre.

We have worked on a number of country park projects – Our work is varied from carrying out market research through to option appraisals and preparing business plans. Clients include:

• East Dorset District Council
• Hampshire County Council
• Kent County Council
• Homes and Communities Agency (formerly English Partnerships)
• Portsmouth & SE Hampshire Partnership
• South Wye Regeneration Partnership
• County of Herefordshire District Council
• Land Trust
• Seeda

The Land Trust and RIBA launched an architectural competition to design a pioneering new visitor destination at Cronton Colliery in Knowsley, Merseyside. Hawkins/Brown were named as one of four finalists from more than 50 entries in the global competition. PSCL have been working with the Hawkins/ Brown project team on their shortlisted scheme to advise on its operational viability and ability to secure long term funding. We also looked at the phasing plan to create a new visitor destination and public open space at the 43 hectare site.

Planning Solutions Consulting Limited has been selected to prepare audience development and visitor management plans and an interpretation plan for Caldicot Castle and Country Park in Monmouthshire. More to follow shortly.

Working with a leading farm visitor attraction Planning Solutions Consulting Limited have been appointed to prepare a future investment strategy to realise the full potential of this farm based visitor experience in North West England.

We have launched our new ethnographic research service to help clients understand the needs and motivations of customers and consumers.

It is interesting to note the recent moves by UK Government to put a price on nature. In February this year, Caroline Spelman, the UK Environment Secretary, said all countries should measure ‘natural capital’ (the state of natural resources) as well as finances.

The UK Government is setting up a Natural Capital Committee reporting to the Treasury that will work out our own wealth in terms of air quality, fresh water, wildlife and other natural resources. The intention is to introduce “green accounting” that will audit the state of a nation’s rivers, forests and other landscapes as well as just GDP.

Whitby, Coastal Defence Strategy
PSCL worked as part of a team led by Royal Haskoning to carry out a contingent valuation exercise to evaluate the value of the coastline and beaches along a 7 kilometre stretch around Whitby in North Yorkshire. Our role was to assess the value of the coastline for tourism and amenity use, alongside fishing and other commercial uses. Following a contingent valuation approach (to assess ‘natural capital’) we carried out an extensive programme of primary research among residents and tourists to assess the importance of the beach and coastline to their enjoyment and quality of life. The final work is intended to establish the relative importance of continuing to protect coastal defences in the area.  We have worked on a number of coastal regeneration projects.

“The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a confirmed grant of just under £1million to the SS Robin Trust so that the world’s oldest complete steamship can re-open to the public.” Source:HLF also visit SS Robin

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO’s high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all.

We currently have 5 different opportunities in a variety of tourism roles, based in Tajikistan. These roles require particular specialist skills and experience in tourism and a 24 month commitment. I have attached a one page summary of the roles.

Our package includes salary, return flight, accommodation, medical and travel insurance cover, national insurance contributions, pension contributions, visas and work permits grants and guaranteed holidays.

Please see below for details of the roles:

Each requires tourism specialist with at least 2 years of professional experience and I have attached a short summary of the roles.

Hospitality advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months

You’ll provide your expertise to help develop an improved understanding of contemporary standards in hospitality and service (hotel and restaurant businesses), ensuring the next generation of tourism professionals will be better equipped to take up jobs and provide jobs for others throughout the tourism value chain.
You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related field to hospitality management paired with a least 3 years experience of managing a reputable hotel or restaurant – ideally with experience of attracting international clientele. You’ll have experience of managing and advising staff and providing on-the-job training at all levels of the hospitality business. You’ll need strong marketing expertise and experience.

New business advisor for tourism, Tajikistan, 12 months

You’ll use your vast experience of tourism business develop and marketing to develop skills with in Tajikistan tourism industry and deliver recommendations to realise Tajikistan’s tourism potential. You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related business field paired with extensive practical experience of the tourism and hospitality sector. You’ll need to demonstrate your experience of developing high-level tourism plans as well as skills in small business development, ideally in hospitality or tourism. You’ll have strong communication and facilitation skills to pass on your extensive marketing experience.

Tourism strategy advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months

We are now looking for a very experienced tourism specialist to help the Free Economic Zone to pioneer responsible tourism and hospitality development in the historic city of Khojand to enable to generation of more business and employment opportunities in to Central Asia’s poorest countries. Working with staff at the FEZ, you’ll provide technical tourism business development support to develop a realistic strategy for tourism and hospitality development.

You’ll have a degree in business development, tourism development or a related field and at least 3 years experience of working at a senior level in the tourism sector. You’ll have an excellent understanding of business management and organisational development paired with experience of raising investment or funding for tourism development.

Tourism Marketing and PR advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months

We are looking for an experienced tourism specialist with marketing and PR expertise to build the capacity of the Tajikistan government to realise Tajikistan’s tourism potential. You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related business field paired with extensive practical experience of the tourism and hospitality sector. You’ll need to demonstrate your experience of developing high-level tourism plans as well as skills in small business development, ideally in hospitality or tourism. You’ll have strong communication and facilitation skills to pass on your extensive marketing experience.

Tourism board development advisor, Tajikistan, 24 months

You will use your extensive experience of tourism business development to support the Zerafshan Tourism Board (ZTB)to develop a viable and sustainable membership body for the promotion of regional tourism and representation of tourism development interests. You will support ZTB staff to develop an independent and financially sustainable organisation. You’ll have a degree in Tourism or business. You will need extensive experience of managing small businesses in the tourism or hospitality sector as well as experience of membership bodies and the development of membership services and financial stability.

www.vso.org.uk/volunteer/current-roles

We have launched a new research service – Ethnography where we carry out ethnographic research to engage with a range of different consumers and hard to reach audiences.

Our sister company Planning Solutions Limited is looking for a full time Accounts Assistant to run the Purchase Ledger, needs to be experienced in purchase ledger, bank reconcilations and Sage line 50. It is a very busy office with a small team so must be a team player. Please contact Val (val @ pslplan.co.uk) for more details. Based in Havant, Hampshire.