Holme Pierrepont background
Holme Pierrepont, the National Watersports Centre, is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, and leased to Sport England.
Sport England informed us last year that they wish to withdraw their support from Holme Pierrepont as a National Centre of Excellence.
We employed consultants to investigate possible options for Holme Pierrepont.
Councillor Chris Baron, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, explained: “We need to look for a viable long term future for Holme Pierrepont, and the brief to the consultants was to look to secure this whilst providing maximum benefit to the community at the minimum burden to the local taxpayer.”
Some of the suggestions have already been discounted because they do not fit with the interests of the Council or local people. But the consultant's report does look at some options that we want to explore in more details.
“It is going to take us some time to develop plans for the site," continued Councillor Baron.
“We need to have the vision to look at the future of this site, and to ensure that we can retain the best elements of this wonderful facility. Of course we are disappointed that Sport England may no longer be involved, but we have to be realistic and remain positive about an exciting future for the site.
“Whilst we develop our plans we will be consulting with local people and those who are currently involved with Holme Pierrepont."
So, we asked for your views on the possible options. At this early stage in the process, the thinking is still in fairly broad terms. More detailed plans will emerge based on your feedback and more detailed analysis of the options.
Its possible that we could decide to develop a blend of the options below. Any major capital investment would almost certainly mean we would work with the private sector to finance the re-development of Holme Pierrepont.
The possible options for Holme Pierrepont are:
Extreme sports centre.
This would involve expanding existing facilities such as white-water rafting, canoeing and water-skiing, and adding new activities like a skateboard park, a BMX park, mountain bike trails and climbing walls.
Accommodation would be upgraded and new restaurants and bars added to make the site appealing to families, schools, tourists and businesses.
Health and education centre.
This option would concentrate on traditional sports, and could see the development of all weather football pitches, tennis courts, and a 9 hole golf course. There could also be health and fitness clubs and beauty spas.
Environmental and ecological centre.
An environmental and ecological centre would see the area concentrate on conservation and nature reserves.
Commercial marina and waterside development.
This option would involve building a new marina, accessible from the River Trent, on approximately half of the site. Elements from some of the other options would also be incorporated, like health clubs and spas, restaurants and bars. The marina would be marketed at tourists and day-trippers, offering a complete short break package.
This option would be just part of the development, with the other half of the site developed to include some of the other more popular options.
Sports village.
A sports village would involve elements from the options above. Existing watersports facilities would be improved, and some additional sports facilities built, with health and beauty spas and general leisure facilities like bars and restaurants. The existing conference facilities could be extended, to make the development attractive to businesses.
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