End-of-year setback for Pleasure Island revamp project as Environment Agency puts boot in - again

                                         

The consortium wants to site holiday cabins on both sides of the Buck Beck - but the Environment Agency is fearful of flood hazard to occupants

IT was a frustrating end to 2023 for the Lidl-led consortium seeking to redevelop the site of the former Pleasure Island theme park.

Just before Christmas, it emerged that the Environment Agency had renewed its objections over abiding concerns of risk to anyone caught in the holiday cabins - 272 are proposed - in the event of flooding either from the sea or the Buck Beck or both.

The consortium's plan is for three distinct locations for the cabins:

1.  92  on the main site of the former theme park 

2.  121 on the area used as a car park and, in summer, for occasional Saturday morning car boot sales 

3.  59  on higher ground between the Buck Beck and the Meridian showground

The Environment Agency has acknowledged  the willingness of the consortium to agree closure during winter for sites 1 and 2 when risk of coastal flooding is greatest.

However, it remains unconvinced that arrangements for sudden evacuation are satisfactory - particularly given that Kings Road, which runs past the site, would also be vulnerable to similar "inundation" by flood waters. 

But the EA's  main concern appears to be with 3 - the 59 cabins proposed for the higher ground.

With panoramic views over the estuary, these cabins - whether for sale or rent - could generate substantial income, particularly if they are available for  all-year occupation.

The consortium believes all-year occupation is essential in order to make the whole project viable, but the EA is insistent that occupation of these cabins, too, should be seasonal only.

In a letter to the planning authority at North East Lincolnshire Council, the agency states: "We do not believe that adequate evidence has been provided to justify year-round occupation.

"We therefore continue to recommend closure between 1 November and 14 March for this area."

As if flood risk were not enough of a headache for the consortium, it still has to overcome the objections of another statutory consultee, Natural England, over potential disturbance to shoreline birds including declining species such as curlew, redshank and knot.

On the plus side, despite trade objections from competitors, there does not seem to have been the same level of controversy over the projects sister proposals for a Lidl supermarket, a garden centre, two hotels and other amenity buildings.

It was on December 21, 2022 that Lichfields planning and development consultancy submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council the original planning application - along with a fee of  £44,939 - on behalf of the consortium.

Some 12 months down the road, the project is, alas for the developers, still in limbo.

What will 2024 hold in store?

The higher ground, off Meridian Road, where the consortium would like to site 59 all-year-occupation cabins 

This area, at the coastal end of North Sea Lane, has been earmarked for 121 of the cabins