Pirate ship hotel heads £3.8m Gulliver’s project
Consultancy County Planning has submitted plans on behalf of Gulliver’s Theme Parks & Leisure Resorts for the development of a 15,500 sq ft, 71-bedroom hotel at Gulliver’s World in Warrington.
The 2.4-acre site is situated close to the current theme park, to the north west of Warrington town centre. The hotel is part of a £3.8m scheme comprising four linked planning applications which seek permission for construction of two hotels, a change of use of land to enable siting of 33 holiday lodges and the building of a themed village resort complex.
Known as the Wilderness Wharf, the development will complement the theme park’s current offering to provide themed accommodation within a bespoke landscaped area. It will include hotels themed as a pirate ship and fairytale castle with suites, family rooms and a village resort encompassing a café, craft centre, children’s indoor play centre/crèche, guest reception and housekeeping facilities.
Formed in 2018, County Planning is led by director Dan Matthewman who left Knights in the autumn.
Matthewman, who has represented Gulliver’s since 2015, said: “The Wilderness Wharf development is a complete overhaul of expansion plans originally approved in 2007. It will complement the existing theme park, as well as stimulating the local economy by over £6m and providing more than 40 local jobs.
“The plans will capture the imagination of visitors and enhance this important visitor attraction in the town. The extension to the site facilities at Warrington indicates a strengthening of the UK leisure sector more widely.”
Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s, said: “This is our 40th year in business and next year we are proud to be celebrating our 30th year in Warrington. The proposals will help us continue to deliver quality leisure breaks and entertainment as the UK holiday market changes and grows, providing quality, family-friendly accommodation that suits all budgets and tastes.”
The outcome of the planning applications is expected in April. Subject ot planning, a two-phase construction programme will then start, taking two to three years to complete.
The professional team also includes SCP Transport; Clarkebond UK, Egniol; Sharps-Gayler; Rachel Hacking Ecology and Ascerta.
