PLANS for a huge indoor water park in the UK have been updated, after years of waiting for a decision.
Proposals to turn Crich Quarry in Derbyshire into a waterpark resort were first submitted more several years ago.
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Should the project eventually be given the green light, it would pave the way for the creation of Amber Rock, which would offer much more than just a waterpark.
The facility would also host guests overnight in a 152-bed hotel, 128 straw-bale lodges and 210 holiday apartments.
Meanwhile, there would also be an indoor and outdoor climbing centre, a heritage centre, a cliff-top restaurant and a sports complex, as well as both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Underground parking for 769 vehicles would be available, while water-powered lifts and solar panels would minimise the site’s environmental impact.
Zip lines, a bowling alley, shops, cafes and restaurants would be on-site, while an over-water yoga studio and miniature golf course have also been mooted as part of the resort.
When it was first launched, a statement on its website said the resort hoped to “preserve the local environment and protect the community for years to come”.
The facility would also offer day trips and events to local destinations, as well as a “unique mix of leisure activities suitable all year round, making it a destination with the community at its heart and somewhere to create unforgettable memories”.
The statement continued: “Amber Rock’s diverse facilities will actively encourage longer stays to reduce the number of day trips, while specific check-in/check-out times will be applied to reduce effects of peak traffic flow.
“We’ll also arrange various shuttle buses to transport guests to local attractions.”
Now BMET Limited, who wants to open the attraction has provided an update saying the waterpark plans would reinforce a nearby war memorial by securing the ground beneath it.
It also provided assurances that the site’s impact on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and its buffer zone, five miles away, would be “negligible”.
BMET state that the resort would create more than 461 direct jobs altogether.
The developers also claim that the resort would greatly benefit other nearby attractions.
The Derbyshire Times reports that among the latest updates, it says: “Visitors to Amber Rock have the potential to significantly increase the footfall and revenues at several Derbyshire visitor attractions.
Five new water attractions opening in the UK next year
- Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
- Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
- Chessington World of Adventures waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
- The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
- The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.
“[These include] Crich Tramway Village and Crich Stand, accessible to the patrons of the Amber Rock Development from footpaths linking into the wider network.”
However, the plans have been met with some opposition, with some protesters describing the project as “totally inappropriate”.
Residents Opposed to Amber Rock (ROAR) said: “At best this application is seriously negligent towards wildlife, heritage and the special landscape surrounding the quarry.
“At worst, it shows contempt for residents of Crich and elsewhere, and is purely for financial gain by selfish developers.
“In a nutshell this is a totally inappropriate development in this area and must be refused.”
Derby County Council will now make a decision on the plans in the future.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
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