PROJECTS - LEISURE & TOURISM
As a Chartered Planning Consultancy we have a sound knwoledge of how the UK planning system controls how land and buildings are used and developed through a Plan-led system where decisions are guided by local development plans set by councils which in turn follows the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which sets out government priorities, including for sustainable economic growth and tourism.
Tourism and leisure developments (like resorts, theme parks, golf courses, stadiums, or cultural attractions) often have significant impacts on the local environment and economy. Key planning considerations are job creation, visitor spending, regeneration of deprived areas, environmental impact, transport & infrastructure, community impact, heritage & landscape (protecting historic sites, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Types of Leisure & Tourism Developments in the Planning System include urban regeneration projects (stadiums, arenas, waterfront redevelopment, cultural quarters), rural tourism (holiday parks, eco-lodges, golf courses, farm diversification), coastal tourism (marinas, seaside attractions, caravan parks) and heritage and cultural attractions (museums, historic site facilities, festivals).
Challenges and tensions include balancing growth with sustainability, how to deal with high seasonal demand and pressure local services, Large-scale proposals are often controversial (e.g., theme parks like London Resort in Kent faced strong opposition), climate change has led to a new focus on sustainable tourism, green transport, and resilient infrastructure.
Example Cases include the Eden Project, Cornwall, Blackpool regeneration (leisure-focused planning to revive declining seaside tourism) and deevlopment in National Parks where strict planning controls balance tourism (visitor centres, trails) with conservation.
In short the UK planning system is a balancing act encouraging leisure and tourism for economic growth, while protecting communities and the environment, and at En-PLan we have the required knowledge of rural planning to deliver leisure and tourism development in challenging circumstances and the archiectural services and architectural visualisation skills to present your project in a profesional manner and ensure your project is successful.
