A £200m waterpark could open in a UK town which developers promise will be a “world-class leisure facility”. The park is planned for the site of Basingstoke Golf Centre in what could be a huge boost for the town. An ‘in principle’ deal has been agreed with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after the US-based operator expressed an interest in breaking into the UK market.
The American leisure operator Great Wolf Resorts wants to build a 500-bedroom hotel, an indoor water park, mini-golf, mini-bowling, ropes course, games arcade and selection of restaurants, cafés and bars as well as conference spaces. Great Wolf Resorts currently operates 20 branded resorts in the US and Canada, having first launched in 1997. It has been suggested that the resort could be opened by 2029, if the proposals receive planning permission.
A family of four looking for a one-night stay at a Great Wolf Resort in the US would be set back at least $199 (£157).
A spokesperson for Great Wolf Lodge told the Basingstoke Gazette: “We have been exploring opportunities to expand our signature Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort experience beyond North America, and we are excited by the growth potential within the UK market.
“We are currently reviewing multiple potential locations in the UK, with public exhibitions upcoming for sites in Clowne and Hampshire, which we have strong interest in developing.
“These two sites, along with a location in Oxfordshire that we previously received planning approval for, will help us reach a large concentration of UK families.
“Each of these resorts will provide around 500 permanent jobs and bring a world-class leisure facility to the region, attracting tourists and investment.”
The site is currently home to Basingstoke Golf Centre, owned by the council and operated by the Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust and managed by Serco.
Earlier this month, a similar design for a waterpark and a 500-room hotel were unveiled for the village of Clowne in Derbyshire.
The proposals for the site of a former colliery that shut back in 1961 could create up to 500 jobs.
A £400m waterpark is also set to open in Manchester with hopes it will be finished in 2028, after being delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
