Clients: Cadwyn Clwyd and Park in the Past Community Interest Company

Park in the Park is a developing country park located in the Alyn Valley midway between Wrexham, Mold and Chester and near the villages of Hope, Caergwrle and Penyffordd. Park In The Past is being developed on a former 126-acre sand and gravel quarry which ceased production in 2004. The site includes a 35-acre lake and a stretch of the River Alyn.

The ambition is to reproduce a First Century landscape, this is through the construction of a small turf-and-timber Roman fort indicative of the types being built in North Wales during the period, together with a small family unit Iron Age settlement employing agricultural management methods, crops and domesticated livestock appropriate to that time. Park in the Past is also managing and restoring a number of wildlife habitats within the site and recreating the biological diversity present in the First Century.

Planning Solutions Consulting were commissioned to work with both Cadwyn Clwyd and Park in the Past Community Interest Company to carry out a feasibility study to identify and evaluate opportunities to introduce a range of watersports uses on the lake within the site. Our work included:

• Identifying how the project would help to deliver key policy outcome in respect of the Destination Management Plan for Flintshire and the National Tourism Action Plan
• Conducting a detailed market assessment with a focus on the residential demographic profile, tourism in Wales and Flintshire, a review of the watersports and activity marketplaces and the competitive landscape. A summary SWOT highlighted the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the market
• Four case examples of watersports centres were reviewed and key lessons set out
• A module of primary research identified the needs of the local community and a workshop was hosted for key stakeholders and interested parties
• An options appraisal assessed three different watersports development scenarios
• For the lead option, indicative costs and a commentary were provided in terms of potential operating models and financial considerations
• Funding opportunities were also reviewed

To find out more about Park in the Park visit their website and you can also find about Cadwyn Clwyd Rural Development Agency here.

This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.