Ambitious plans for Scarborough’s future approved

Planners at Scarborough Council yesterday gave their backing to the water park, phase three of the North Bay scheme which is expected to generate further investment.

If given the final seal of approval by the full council in September, work by developer Benchmark could start almost immediately and be complete within 18 months.

The all-season park is expected to attract up to 300,000 visitors a year.

Benchmark’s agent for the project, Gary Barber, said: “We are all absolutely delighted.

“We have always been minded that Scarborough has long awaited the water park. We are a fresh team dealing with this and our selected operator for the park wants it to be operational for early 2014.”

He said work was being done behind the scenes to prepare for the work on site, which was likely to begin early next year.

Council leader Tom Fox said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’m optimistic it will be open and running by Easter 2014.”

Coun David Chance, cabinet member for tourism and culture, added: “When it’s all done, it will regenerate the North Bay of Scarborough and that’s the important thing. “It’s an opportunity we’ve grasped and I look forward to it.”

Development of the North Bay has been a work in progress for more than a decade.

Initial plans failed to get off the drawing board and the Sands scheme faltered during the economic downturn.

The permission for the water park includes indoor and outdoors pools, water rides and flumes, as well as a restaurant and car park, on the site of the Burniston Road car park in the North Bay area of the town.

There will also be 29 holiday lodges on the former Kinderland Children’s World site, and 124 holiday homes at Bay View, formerly Mr Marvel’s Amusement Park.

The existing overspill car park next to Ryndle Crescent will be kept and upgraded with an all-weather surface to provide 309 parking spaces.

Coun David Jeffels, who represents the area for tourism organisations including Welcome to Yorkshire, said it would have a much wider impact for the town and its surroundings.

“Scarborough has always prided itself on being in the top three resorts in the country,” he said. “This decision, which is part of the £140m Sands development overall, is wonderful news, especially in the current recession. It shows there’s great confidence in Scarborough by national companies, which underlines the council’s aspiration to achieve the regeneration of the entire Yorkshire coast by 2020.

“This development will provide Scarborough with a year-round leisure and attractions complex which is going to be economically marvellous for the town because it will result in new jobs being created and new investment, not just in The Sands but also hotels and other attractions.”

Councillors Fox and Jeffels both said they hoped the decision would lead to further applications as part of the £140m Sands development. Among the other suggestions are a hotel and entertainment complex at the Atlantis, featuring a cinema, restaurants and shops

Coun Jeffels said that, in view of its success with the planning committee, he did not envisage any problems with the water park plans being passed by the council.

“This is one of the most exciting decisions that has been made in Scarborough for many years,” he added. “We’ve been looking for a development of this kind for a long time and it’s wonderful it should come about in a time of recession.”