Cheshire East set to endorse Lapland experience at Capesthorne Hall
Now that Christmas 2024 in the rear-view mirror, Cheshire East Council is looking ahead to this year’s festive season. The authority wants to lock in plans for a 43-acre winter wonderland that could generate millions for the local economy.
Lapland Manchester – so-called despite being located west of Macclesfield 16 miles away from the city centre – is a four-hour immersive Christmas experience planned for Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.
Visitors would enter an enchanted forest to meet Father Christmas and his elves, make toys, decorate gingerbread, ice skate, and meet reindeer.
The only other current immersive Lapland experience is in Whitmoor Forest in Ascot and attracts around 170,000 visitors annually.
Alison and Mike Battle are the directors of Lapland UK and they are seeking permission to bring the attraction to Capesthorne Hall for the 50 days leading up to Christmas day each year for the next decade.
Cheshire East Council’s planning committee will consider the proposals next week. The authority has recommended the scheme for approval, citing “significant economic and social benefits” that outweigh the potential harm to the Green Belt.
Lapland UK estimates the Capesthorne Hall venture could generate £24.5m a year for the area through projected visitor spend, supplier spend, and employment wages. It would employ approximately 1,200 individuals each year, many of whom are likely to be local.
Firstplan is advising Lapland UK on the proposals. The project team includes David Jarvis Associates, The Heritage Practice, Kingdom Ecology, Robinson Forestry, and TTP Consulting.
You can learn more about Lapland’s proposals by searching reference number 24/4504/FUL on Cheshire East Council’s planning portal.
It might be 16 miles from the City Centre but brand Manchester has serious pull as the University of Salford has understood with their rebrand but Media City is still struggling to accept. London’s surrounding areas do this all the time as it makes business sense.
By Bob
Re Bob. You’re correct. Airports in the south east… Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend all prefixed by London.
All the towns around the city and surrounding counties are benefiting from the brand Manchester.
I hope this venture at Capesthorne is a resounding success.
By Peter Chapman
Great idea…
By Peter Cassidy
Love this idea and hope it won’t cost the earth, would love to take my little one
By Dee
Capesthorne have been hosting festivals for years why worry about greenbelt land now ? The infrastructure is in place but it’s in Cheshire not Manchester. Near jodrell bank . They could certainly use that as a “tracker ” for father Christmas 🎅.
By Anonymous