Lancaster relaunches Frontierland opportunity on Eden Project success
Following approval of £50m of government funding for the seafront eco-destination, the city council is seeking expressions of interest for a leisure-led development on the 7.4-acre seafront site.
An earlier exercise aimed at gauging developer appetite for the site “received good interest”, according to the city council.
However, the majority of the proposals put forward for the former Frontierland site were housing-led, with an ancillary hotel or leisure component.
Now, Lancaster City Council is relaunching the development opportunity, stating that it wants to see more emphasis on leisure to complement the proposed Eden Project Morecambe, to be built 250 metres away.
“The site is a great location for a new purpose-built hotel,” according to tender documents for the opportunity.
The documents also state that changes to the holiday market “offer potential for apart-hotels, serviced apartments and more family-orientated holiday accommodation, particularly for things that could broaden Morecambe’s offer and appeal”.
The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is midday on Friday 14 April 2023. The opportunity can be viewed on Bidstats.
Lancaster City Council acquired the site of the former theme park from Morrisons in 2021.
Located close to the Midland Hotel and the proposed £125m Eden Project North, the 7.4-acre Frontierland site has been vacant since the theme park closed in 1999.
Several redevelopment attempts have come and gone in the intervening 23 years.
Most recently, developer Opus North won approval for a £17m mixed-use scheme known as Bay Shopping Park in 2014.
The proposals included 120,000 sq ft of retail space, 15,000 sq ft of restaurants, pubs and cafes, a 62-bedroom hotel and 336 car parking spaces.
However, the project never materialised and planning consent has now expired.
Could be one for Capital & Centric?
By SW
So if Lancaster City Council has a vision for Frontierland why does Morecambe Town Council raising council tax to buy it?
By Anonymous
I think they should put a fair there I bet no one’s thought of that
By Bindon
Sorry – how does “could be one for c and c” pas your journalistic comments policy? Or are you just an advert vehicle for them?
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous! Thanks for your comment and engaging with our comment section. The comments on Place North West are written by readers and do not reflect the opinions of our staff. This comment meets our community standards (which are different to our editorial journalistic ones) in the same way that comments that praise certain architects or deride certain developers are allowed up. Our comment policy can be found here: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/comments-policy/ Happy to discuss this further with you if you’d like. I’m at julia@placenorthwest.co.uk.
In the meantime, comments ideally spark a conversation! Please feel free to engage in a way that follows our community guidelines. – Julia
By Julia Hatmaker
Absolutely fantastic news .Will bring in new trade just what Morecombe needs
By Marie Swindlehurst
Must be creative and innovative offering something related to climate change not fair ground rides. Or fairground rides that reflect the Eden experience.
By Henry Gray
Raising council tax over £16 a month extra utter farce
By Bobby
They need to build a green area with parks and skate ramps for the children in the area something for them to do and maybe add an outdoor arena for the circus or bands to play on
By Robert
This would be great to have leisure park or a fair something to bring people to Morecambe
By Nora Richardson
Water Park gets my vote
By David
Gated Toddler paddling pool would be nice for really little children & parents. Old fashioned band stand. Crazy Golf. Skate Park. Please no more shops – we already have quaint Yorkshire St in the West End which is not far from Eden Project site. Think we have enough hotels in Morecambe.
By Anonymous
This is an opportunity to create a real showstopper that draws on the natural beauty of the bay and gives Morecambe another reason to feel proud again. Agree with those comments that includes something for bored teenagers – a skatepark is great for both participants and spectators; but should also include lots of green areas, and links in with the station and cycle route to encourage sustainable travel.
By Anonymous
Nice for Morecambe
By Anon
We have enough pubs, cafés and hotels so why don’t we actually create something the kids can enjoy rather than a few small play areas. We no longer have a pool or a pleasure park which really made a difference & made Morecambe fun for families. Morecambe feels more like a retirement village but we still have a lot of kids, families moving here. It does need regeneration but not just for one age group.
By D
Let’s follow the momentum of Eden and the winter gardens.. I’d like to take a moment though to praise pleasureland/ Johnnie’s entertainments who have invested in the town through COVID and lean times.. I hop they get millions by osmosis to the new projects.
By Steve b
A roller skating venue would compliment the area it would also be good for the local residents in the winter there is nothing for the kids to do
By Anonymous
Something to fit in with Morecambe “a holiday town”. No more shops ,we have enough empty ones. A splash park,A small fairground,an ice rink, a picnic area,mini golf, things families can do after visiting the Eden Project.We have sufficient hotels.
By Christine Ellis