Country Park Masterplans
Country Park Masterplan Consultant
Country Park Spatial Planning
Country Park visitor centre
Country park masterplan
Caldicot Castle Visitor Experience Plan

Country park masterplans

PSC has extensive experience delivering country park masterplanning, strategic development planning, commercial income generation planning and business planning projects for a diverse range of clients, including Hampshire County Council, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, Broadland District Council, and Buckinghamshire County Council.

Our projects span both new country parks in development and established parks seeking to enhance their visitor experience — whether to strengthen their competitive position, increase visitor numbers, or increase revenue.

Key steps in producing a country park masterplan

  1. Site assessment — Identifying the specific constraints and opportunities presented by the visitor experience
  2. Operational review — Understanding what the current operation does well and where improvements can be made
  3. Strategic and planning context — Building the case for investment and clarifying the relevant local planning development framework
  4. Market review — Analysing the demographic profile and broader trends shaping the country park sector and wider economy
  5. Competitive landscape — Ensuring future proposals are distinctive and well-positioned in the marketplace
  6. Consultation — Engaging with staff, stakeholders, existing visitors, and hard-to-reach audiences
  7. Benchmarking and case studies — Drawing on best practice and learning from challenges faced by comparable parks
  8. Concept development and evaluation — Identifying and evaluating options, identifying capital costs and funding opportunities, and developing supporting concept sketches
  9. Staffing and governance — Assessing staffing implications and exploring appropriate management models, whether a Council, Trust, CIC, or specialist commercial operator
  10. Financial assessment — Building a robust trading profile and long-term financial model
  11. Risk assessment — Identifying key risks and setting out clear mitigation strategies

Project examples

  • Link4Life: Completed a new Vision of Hollingworth Lake Country Park and Activity Centre to create a 5-year development and management strategy and supporting financial analysis.  The client kindly provided a testimonial here.
  • Knowsley MBC: Prepared a business plan for Bowring Park for a successful Lottery project at this historic city park
  • Blackpool Council: Carried out an economic feasibility study to support the development of water sports at Stanley Park Lake, which is situated within a 260-acre public park
  • Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council:  Carried out a market assessment and options appraisal, along with preparing the supporting business case to regenerate Margam Castle (Grade I listed) and integrate this within Margam Country Park
  • Hampshire County Council:  Prepared development plans and the supporting financial cases to support a £19m transformation programme across five key country parks, two heritage farm attractions and a National Nature Reserve.  The work included direct visitor research (over 2,000 responses), engagement with staff, community groups, volunteers, and stakeholders to ensure future development plans met the needs of stakeholders and the wider ‘market.’  The client kindly provided a testimonial here.
  • Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: Prepared a visitor experience masterplan for Gnoll Estate Country Park.  In 2022 invited to work with the Council to support a successful application to the Levelling Up Fund (securing over £12m for the park).  We were also commissioned to develop the financial model for a new tearoom catering offer and for a self-catering cottage
  • North Northamptonshire Council:  Carried out a feasibility study to assess future development options for Sywell Country Park and Irchester Country Park
  • Central Bedfordshire Council:  Prepared a business plan which secured Lottery funding to redevelop Houghton Hall Park (including a new visitor centre).  This work included an extensive engagement programme. The client kindly provided a testimonial here.
  • Wokingham Borough Council:  At Dinton Pastures Country Park, we were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study to help secure the long-term future of the country park.  We were also commissioned to advise on delivery options for Countryside Services across the whole council. The client kindly provided a testimonial here.
  • Adur & Worthing Councils: We were commissioned to carry out a market assessment and commercial review to inform the development of masterplan for Brooklands Park in Worthing
  • Warwickshire County Council: Prepared development masterplans for Kingsbury Water Park and Pooley Country Park.
  • North West Leicestershire District Council: Prepared a development plan for Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park.  Latterly commissioned to carry out a separate study related to the catering offer
  • Eastleigh Borough Council: As part of its wider efficiencies programme, we were commissioned to identify approaches to increasing visitor numbers, improving the income generated onsite and enhancing the visitor experience, including the café and meeting space at Itchen Valley Country Park (the work helped to secure development funding). The client kindly provided a testimonial here.
  • Epping Forest Heritage Trust:  We carried out a comprehensive feasibility study and assessment of the Trust’s activities to provide clear, practical recommendations on its services moving forward.  A key remit of the Trust is linked to education and learning across Epping Forest. The client kindly provided a testimonial here
  • For a London Borough at a key recreation site, incorporating a large water body, we carried out a module of primary research to build up a profile of current visitors.   We are then using the ‘data’ alongside other research to identify approaches to solving issues which have arisen because of a significant increase in visitor numbers, including anti-social behaviour
  • Rushcliffe Borough Council: Rushcliffe Country Park is a popular and established park to the south of Nottingham. Our work focused on carrying out a feasibility study to assess the opportunity to extend the existing visitor centre to accommodate an exemplar eco-cafe

To see other examples of our work, explore some of the country park projects we have delivered click here.

Operational experience — managing visitor sites

Alongside our consultancy practice, our sister company Planning Solutions Limited operates several visitor attractions, including:

  • Conkers — a 120-acre forest experience
  • Kent Life — a 28 acre heritage farm park
  • Cotswold Country Park and Beach — a popular watersports and activity destination

This hands-on operational experience gives us a genuine understanding of the financial drivers and cost pressures involved in running complex visitor sites. It brings a commercial realism to our consultancy work that clients find very useful.

How can we help?
If have any questions about developing a masterplan or business plan for a country park, please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk