Vision revealed for new Lake District gateway

A team led by Altrincham-based landscape architect Planit-IE has completed the 15-year masterplan for the redevelopment of Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre on the shores of Windermere for the Lake District National Park Authority.

The plan is to transform Brockhole into "an exciting taster hub for all the national park has to offer".

The 30-acre park on the banks of Lake Windermere attracts more than 230,000 visitors a year and new plans aim to enable Brockhole to attract 400,000 visitors a year and become financially self-sustaining by the end of 2014.

Planit-IE previously designed the new jetty at Brockhole in 2011. Pete Swift, director of Planit-IE, said: "It has been a pleasure to develop the masterplan for Brockhole, we have a great team and our consultation process has added real value to the vision. We fell in love with this place when we started designing the jetty – to be involved in such a scheme of great national and international significance in one of the most beautiful places in the world is a great honour for us."

Plans include restoring the historic Thomas Mawson-designed Arts and Crafts garden to its former glory, developing a purpose-built watersports centre offering starter sessions, and building a new visitor centre to inspire people to explore and celebrate the Lakes.

All of this will add to the already popular attractions such as the Treetop Trek, pony rides, boat hire and hundreds of activities hosted by Brockhole all year round.

Chris Billinge, chairman of the Brockhole Programme Board, said: "I'm excited by the potential of the masterplan because it will help raise the profile and boost the economy of the area.

"Our role with partners is to help attract more people to the Lake District and inspire them to explore this awe-inspiring landscape."

An action plan and funding strategy is currently being developed by the National Park and its partners.

The design team included Stockley Urban Engineering, ARCA Architects and public event programmer Groundbreaking.