Client: Broads Authority
The Broads Authority commissioned an architectural competition to design a landmark visitor, education and boating centre on a site adjacent on the River Bure at Acle Bridge, Norfolk. The competition generated a significant number of responses and three architectural practices were shortlisted and a preferred practice Feilden + Mawson was appointed to design the centre. The Broads is one of 15 areas in the UK designated as a ‘National Park’ because of the quality of its landscape. The objective is to create a new centre for the National Park and raise the profile of the area’s special qualities. Concept sketch produced by architects Feilden+Mawson

Planning Solutions Consulting Limited was commissioned by The Broads Authority to carry out a feasibility study for their proposed visitor, education and boating centre at Acle Bridge in Norfolk.   We carried out a market review, including a demographic analysis of the residential population, the tourism market, passing traffic and competitive landscape. The boating market place was also assessed and other National Park visitor centres were reviewed. It was particularly important to ensure that the project could help to deliver key strategic outcomes and the wider strategic context including the Destination Management Plan for the Broads National Park were key parts of the development appraisal. This also involved identifying the guiding principles and key market segments the centre would engage with. A forecast visitor model was developed to help identify future visitor numbers, leading to the production of a trading profile and risk assessment. Find out more about the Broads Authority here. Have a look at some of the other projects we have worked on in our National Parks here.

How can we help?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our work please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 023 9248 1999 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk