Owner of Horseheath Lodge near Haverhill submits plans for a new adventure and leisure park

An ambitious and exciting proposal has been put forward to transform an area of a privately owned estate just six miles from Haverhill into a top leisure destination.

Land at Horseheath Lodge Estate, next to the A1307, part of which is currently disused agricultural buildings, would offer five outdoor play zones, including one featuring a miniature train ride, indoor play area, café restaurant and education centre.

A charitable trust would be set up with turnover from ticket sales assisting with this charity mission.

The applicant, A.R.B Estates, Land & Property, believes it will have huge economic benefits for the area, creating jobs and also offering a range of commercial units on the site – aimed at local entrepreneurs at affordable rates.

Years of preparation have gone into the planning application, which is now with South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The development proposal and business case has been drawn up on behalf of the applicant by GGB Land and Property Limited, led by rural surveyor and consultant Lauren Gibson-Green in consultation with A.R.B Estate manager, Jo Standeven.

Lauren said: “We said, what are we going to do with these farm buildings. Let’s turn them into something amazing.

“Rather than just be another farm shop and another café, we have always tried to set ourselves apart.”

Adventure parks and play areas, petting zoos and farm cafés were looked at within a 70 miles radius, according to the business case document, and what would be created, if planning permission is approved, would be something that is not available anywhere in the Haverhill and Cambridge areas, said Lauren.

In order to provide something for people of all ages and all abilities, including the disabled, Lauren and Jo have consulted with the likes of Age UK, The Granta School in Linton, Horseheath Parish Council, Horseheath Brownies group, and more, to get an idea of what the centre should include.

Lauren said: “We are all really keen here on sustainability, even to the point of, rather than having just another play area why don’t we design a play area that lies in a little biomas boiler.

“Rather than having a swing that looks like a swing, make it look like a conker.”

The proposal includes an education park spread across 20 to 30 acres and designed to factor in sustainability, nature, nurture and education for all ages.

The design would be unique to the estate and some of the ideas put forward include:

•Solar panels designed to look like trees;

•Rest areas with green/living roof spaces;

•Pond dipping opportunities and water play, learning about the water capture taken from roof space via water harvesting;

•Animal encounters and experiences;

•Walled garden visits to learn about how the produce is grown and an opportunity to take home and eat

•Sensory trails;

•Den building using trees from the estate;

•Tractor and trailer tours;

•A permanent maze using willow, bamboo, beach, hay and straw bales etc.

An education centre has suggestions that include trampolines that look like solar panels, rope swings, a replica mini biomass boiler that children would fill up with foam to learn about the production of heat and an educational space with a number of classrooms.

A courtyard area would have retails units leased to local artisan businesses.

It is estimated, explained Lauren, that 13 jobs would be created, with further employment offered through the café, which would be leased out and through the businesses occupying the courtyard.

A new vehicular access, with separate entry and departure, would be made off Dean Road and a 93-space car park created.

It is hoped, said Lauren, that planning approval, if given, would take about one year, after which construction would take two to three further years to complete.

She added: “In talking to local groups, everyone has said this would be absolutely amazing, there’s just nowhere like that near here and we are incredibly lucky that we are on the A1307 in terms of connectability.

“We have got really good connections in terms of Haverhill and Cambridge.”

And of the appeal that the new centre would have to visitors, she said: “We do envisage that, when buying a ticket, they will get a whole day out and it will be hopefully one of those things that there is so much here they will keep on coming back again and again and again.”