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NEWS
£200m leisure resort planned for Northumberland
POSTED 20 Feb 2009 . BY Tom Walker
New revised plans have been announced to build a £200m tourism and leisure attraction on the site of three former mines in Northumberland.

According to Widdrington Regeneration Partnership (WRP), the joint venture behind the scheme, the development will now include a holiday village with chalet accommodation, an indoor leisure complex with a 50m swimming pool, a man-made sailing lake, a 150-room luxury hotel, a health spa and a championship golf course.

Other facilities planned include an indoor and outdoor adventure centre and a heritage visitor centre.

Plans for the attraction were first unveiled in 2003, as part of a larger regeneration scheme for the opencast mine sites of Stobswood, Maidens Hall and Steadsburn.

WRP secured £80,000 in funding from a number of partners – including the European Regional Development Fund and the Northumberland Strategic Partnership – towards a feasibility study to be undertaken in 2005. The study, completed by KPMG, suggested that initial plans to include a 500m indoor skiing venue would be unsustainable. The new plans, unveiled this month, are based on the KPMG recommendations.

The project has been given the working name of Blue Sky Forest, and WRP hopes to start construction on the site within the next two years.

The sites are currently owned by UK Coal, which contributed to the funding of the feasibility study.

MORE NEWS
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The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
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The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
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NEWS
£200m leisure resort planned for Northumberland
POSTED 20 Feb 2009 . BY Tom Walker
New revised plans have been announced to build a £200m tourism and leisure attraction on the site of three former mines in Northumberland.

According to Widdrington Regeneration Partnership (WRP), the joint venture behind the scheme, the development will now include a holiday village with chalet accommodation, an indoor leisure complex with a 50m swimming pool, a man-made sailing lake, a 150-room luxury hotel, a health spa and a championship golf course.

Other facilities planned include an indoor and outdoor adventure centre and a heritage visitor centre.

Plans for the attraction were first unveiled in 2003, as part of a larger regeneration scheme for the opencast mine sites of Stobswood, Maidens Hall and Steadsburn.

WRP secured £80,000 in funding from a number of partners – including the European Regional Development Fund and the Northumberland Strategic Partnership – towards a feasibility study to be undertaken in 2005. The study, completed by KPMG, suggested that initial plans to include a 500m indoor skiing venue would be unsustainable. The new plans, unveiled this month, are based on the KPMG recommendations.

The project has been given the working name of Blue Sky Forest, and WRP hopes to start construction on the site within the next two years.

The sites are currently owned by UK Coal, which contributed to the funding of the feasibility study.

MORE NEWS
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
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COMPANY PROFILES
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
ProSlide Technology, Inc.

A former national ski team racer, ProSlide® CEO Rick Hunter’s goal has been to integrate the smoot [more...]
Clip 'n Climb

Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and investors more than 40 colourful and unique Cha [more...]
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


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