Watersports economic feasibility study Stanley Park

Client: Blackpool Council
Stanley Park Lake sits within a 260-acre public park that was designed by Thomas Mawson & Sons in 1922 and built-in 1926. The park is Grade II listed and has been voted by the public as ‘UK’s Best Park’ at the annual Fields in Trust Awards – the park won the award in 2017 and 2019. Stanley Park has developed a successful activity and sporting offer including a high ropes course, orienteering, rock climbing, cycling routes and a large sports centre with athletics stadium and associated sports pitches. The lake is an original feature of the park and has traditionally been used for pleasure boating. Historically sailing took place on the lake as well as pleasure tours provided on the oar propelled ‘Samuel Fletcher’ lifeboat.

A range of watersports uses such as canoeing and kayaking have been introduced on the lake. Supporting infrastructure includes a centre with changing facilities, toilets, storage area and briefing space. Our work focused on assessing the opportunity to develop the watersports activities offer and include: Carrying out a site assessment and review of the existing operation; assessing the market trends in the watersports sector, an analysis of the residential population base and tourism market; identifying a number of different uses and investment opportunities; using a weighted scoring matrix these were evaluated and for the preferred uses, we set out indicative development costs; producing an outline financial model and setting out the benefits associated with the development proposals.

How can we help?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our work within the activity sector please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk