Plan for £35m wellness resort fuels anxiety

2 hours ago

Owen SennittNorfolk

News image — Other computer-generated images have been released of what the wellness centre could look like

Ashwicken Lake/BACA Architects Three images side by side show artist's impressions of what the buildings could look like at Ashwicken Lake, all made with wood and glass, with views across the water and decking around them. — Other computer-generated images have been released of what the wellness centre could look like

People living in a cluster of rural villages worry plans to create a £35m wellness retreat on the site of a former quarry will harm their own wellbeing and transform their quiet community.

Landowner Chris Griffin has applied for the second time to transform Ashwicken Lake in west Norfolk, near King's Lynn, into a holiday destination with 154 lodges.

At a public meeting on Monday, Richard Coutts, the architect for the project, said it would create about 260 jobs.

But villagers remain unconvinced and are particularly worried about hundreds of holidaymakers descending on the narrow country roads to reach the site.

What are the plans?

Owen Sennitt/BBC Warning signs tell people "Danger, Quarry Keep Out" attached to a gate, with the quarry in view in the background, which has become a lake — Ashwicken Lake was used as a quarry for several years and it has filled with water following its closure

Formerly quarried for gravel and sand, the 170-acre site has naturally filled with water since it closed in 2010.

As well as a planning application for a clubhouse, spa, restaurant and a car park, the landowner also wants to change the use of the land and lake for tourism and leisure, for activities like paddleboarding, canoeing and rowing.

It is the second time Griffin has attempted to create a holiday destination there.

A previous bid in 2021 was withdrawn due to concerns about flooding.

Owen Sennitt/BBC A man wearing a suit, waistcoat and shirt looks towards the camera. Behind him is a board with CGI animated photos printed on it. — Richard Coutts is director of BACA Architects, which is developing designs for the project

The latest application attempts to resolve these past issues but is facing significant opposition from people living in Ashwicken and the surrounding villages of Gayton, Grimston, East Winch and Leziate.

Coutts, the director of BACA Architects, said the plans had been a "long time in fruition" and the facilities would be a "great community asset".

Holidaymakers would likely invest in local pubs, shops and other businesses, he added.

Why are people worried?

Owen Sennitt/BBC A village hall full of people sat in rows of blue chairs can be seen. — Leziate Village Hall was full of people eager to have their say about the project

So far, more than 100 objections have been lodged with the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

A key concern is the scale of the project, as people worry it will lead to increased traffic, noise and light pollution.

Jo Lydon, 63, who lives opposite the proposed entrance to the lake, said: "This is a quiet village.

"At night I see stars and wildlife. I cannot understand how they can build a wellness centre at the expense of four villages."

Owen Sennitt/BBC A man wearing a wax black jacket and shirt and glasses looks towards the camera in front of a quarry filled with water. — Councillor Michael de Whalley said residents worried the development would turn the quiet rural community "on its head"

Michael de Whalley, an independent district councillor for the area and a Leziate parish councillor, said: "Residents are up in arms about this. People came here to live in quiet rural Norfolk, it will turn everything on its head."

During the public meeting, Coutts said he would feed back the concerns about traffic routes to the landowner, telling villagers that Griffin, a Norfolk farmer, would want to be a "good neighbour" and that he had already invested about £500,000 into the project.

By the meeting's close, some villagers remained unconvinced.

Louise Grimshaw, 81, said: "There is something about this that just feels wrong.

"They are going to surround a currently serene place with properties which in a few years' time might be unprofitable and you have just trashed another piece of Norfolk's countryside."

Natasha Dean, 51, said traffic already became gridlocked in the area during the summer and that people avoided leaving their homes at certain times because of this.

Officers at the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk will continue to review the project and a decision will likely be made later this year.