Income generation at country parks
Visiting country and city parks represent one of the most popular forms of recreation in the U.K.  Footfall is rising and these fantastic assets offer great potential for income generation, however, diminishing budgets and loss of experienced staff creates challenges for the parks. Finding new innovative ways to make the financial management of parks sustainable is vital to ensure their future.  At the same time there is a need to respect the qualities that make country parks special places to visit.

Planning Solutions Consulting has extensive experience of working with country parks, offering a range of different services including:

  • Operational reviews of the current visitor experience and facilities
  • Detailed market research to understand local trends, seasonality and potential new audiences
  • Option appraisals to suggest a range of income generating opportunities and approaches to enhancing the visitor experience
  • Analysis of alternative management and delivery models
  • Preparation of business plans to support Lottery and other funding applications

walled-garden-business-plan

Our own experience of operating outdoor attractions including CONKERS a 120- acre discovery park, the Cotswold Country Park and Beach and Kent Life a heritage farm park through our sister company Planning Solutions Limited, gives us a greater understanding of the current climate and ensures we keep up to date with the latest industry news and trends.  We work closely with site teams and understand the importance of open spaces to our physical and emotional well being. We are commercially focused whilst being sensitive to the conservation stories surrounding these areas. We seek to communicate the ‘sense of place’ to visitors, helping them understand and be inspired by the natural environment.

Find out more about our city and country parks projects.  Image kindly supplied by Hampshire County Council

Richard Hart: Business Transformation Manager, Heritage & Environment Services, Warwickshire County Council
Project: Impact Assessment of Large Infrastructure Proposal for Country Parks
“Warwickshire County Council commissioned Planning Solutions Consulting Limited (PSC) to provide an Impact Assessment with mitigation options in response to a large scale infrastructure proposal that would impact upon two of the Council’s Country Parks. PSC managed the project with great professionalism and enthusiasm. We were particularly impressed by the team’s ‘hands-on’ approach and practical understanding of the operational and business context of Country Parks. Kevin, Richard and the entire project team were responsive to our needs and the terms of the project brief. Their effective communication enabled an excellent working relationship to be established from the outset of the project through to the delivery of the final project report.”

Stephanie Rogers, Programme Manager, Country Parks Transformation, Hampshire County Council
Project: Country Parks Transformation
“Planning Solutions Consulting worked with us to evaluate the market for Hampshire County Council’s country parks and produce recommendations on how these could be transformed, together with cost and income analysis and projections. Their experience and contacts within the visitor attraction market has been of great benefit. They were able to start work quickly to capture results from a busy period at the parks and consulted with a large number and variety of stakeholders within a tight timescale. We were regularly kept informed and deadlines were met. The team are very approachable and worked as if they were part of our programme team. They have responded positively to requests at short notice and always happy to discuss any aspects of their reports. Work has also been delivered within budget. I have enjoyed working with this consultancy and would have no hesitation in recommending them.”

Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our work within the country parks and parks sector please don’t hesitate to call either Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk