13 Jul 2017
Longleat eyes extended stays with hotel and waterpark plan
BY Tom Anstey
Plans to develop a 240-bedroom hotel, waterpark and conference facility at the Longleat Estate in Wiltshire are likely to be greenlit when the plans go before councillors next week.
Longleat Enterprises – the commercial arm of the 465-year-old estate – lodged the plans with Wiltshire Council in February earlier this year.
Proposed with the idea of facilitating growth over the next decade, and increasing length of stay at the stately home and safari park, the council will meet on 19 July, with a planning officer's report already having recommended approval subject to conditions.
"This proposed development will provide new hotel accommodation, business conferencing facilities and leisure facilities of a type that is presently absent in Wiltshire,” said the report.
"It is likely to have significant economic benefits which will help support the local community by providing direct and indirect employment, and which will help to secure the long term viability of the Longleat Estate."
Longleat has already committed to spending as much as £3m (US$3.9m, €3.4m) each year as it improves the site over the next decade, with a focus on the history site and increasing visitor stay.
“We’re very happy to be bringing this exciting development to the Strategic Planning Committee next week,” said Longleat Enterprises CEO, Bob Montgomery in a statement to Attractions Management.
“We believe that the timing couldn’t be better for us and for the county, as while guaranteeing the long term sustainability of the Longleat estate and one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions, our sixteen month public consultation has also shown that there is a huge demand in the region for family accommodation and a hotel with business conference facilities for up to 200 delegates.
“It is also estimated the hotel will create a total of 550 full time equivalent positions once open and during its two year construction, giving a much needed economic boost to the communities we support."
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