£18 million holiday park plan gets go-ahead

Plans to build an £18 million holiday park close to Alton Towers theme park has been given the green light by council chiefs in Staffordshire.

Monesytone Park will be built on the site of a former quarry and will see 250 holiday lodges built, along with a hub building which would be home to an indoor swimming pool restaurant, bowling alley, spa, gymnasium, cinema room, cafe, children’s play area, shop, climbing area, reception area and a climbing wall.

The planning application was approved this week by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, despite some objections from neighbouring parish councils about the possible impact on the local area.

Laver Leisure, which is behind the project, said the plans will also see a second café by a lake; a visitor centre with farm shop; an archery centre; equipped play area; a woodland activity area; a multi-sports area; water sports centre; car parking for staff and visitors; and the creation of footpaths and cycleways.

Development will bring ‘significant economic benefits’

Laver Leisure director Peter Swallow welcomed news of the application’s approval.

“We are pleased that Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning committee resolved to grant outline planning permission for Moneystone Park,” he told the Burton Mail.

“The development will bring with it significant economic benefit, with major job creation and increased visitor spending of around £1 million per annum in the local area.

“We will now work with planning officers to work through the planning conditions and bring forward a reserved matters planning application.

“With the certainty of a planning consent we can now work up a timetable for the delivery of the park and the related completion of the final phases of the restoration scheme.”

It is estimated that the project will support 230 jobs during construction and a further 250 once the park is operational.