Public to be asked views on water park inside old quarry
PLANS to build a huge water park resort in a derelict former Derbyshire quarry are taking a step forward.
A public consultation has now been launched into the proposed resort, set for Crich Quarry, north of the village, nearly two years since the Local Democracy Reporting Service broke the news of the planned Amber Rock Resort project.
It would include a giant indoor water park, a 116-bed hotel, 148 straw bale lodges – seven of which would float on the quarry’s lake – 210 holiday apartments, climbing walls, a zip-line, bowling alley, shops, a restaurant, a swim-up bar and a sports hall.
If all goes well and the public are on board with the scheme – after the consultation ends on March 22 – the developers, Hillcrest (Crich) Limited, aim to submit a planning application towards the end of April.
The past two years have seen a flurry of revisions to designs and detailed discussions with Amber Valley Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, the Sherwood Foresters and the Crich Tramway Vilarrange
lage, with a lot of progress made, say the developers.
This includes moving the planned apartment buildings further round towards the northern point of the quarry and shifting the water park complex slightly around towards the eastern side.
A hybrid application would be submitted to Derbyshire County Council for a decision in the next few weeks, after an agreement for it to be the lead, instead of the borough council, with Amber Valley agreeing to act as a key consultee.
The application would see works agreed for the extensive clearing and preparation of the former quarry for development, along with the resort scheme itself. If approved, after an estimated five years for construction and development.
The online consultation will also be joined by a leaflet drop at all homes and properties within three kilometres of the site – in lieu of a public in-person consultation, which had been planned.
Sustainability and clean energy are said to be key parts of the scheme, with water power and solar power used in much of the project.
The water park resort plan is the focus of developer’s aims to bring the quarry back into use. If this fails they say other commercial uses would be explored, but it would not return to quarrying or mining.
A website hosting the consultation says of the development: “Combining a mix of eco-friendly accommodation and exciting leisure activities, our vision for Amber Rock will restore the old quarry set within this beautiful rural backdrop, preserve its heritage, and boost the local economy. We want the Amber Rock resort to become an asset for the community.
“The Amber Rock resort will actually increase the environmental value of the area through improved biodiversity and added landscape amenities.
“Celebrating the unique features and history of its location, Amber Rock will also preserve the local environment and protect the community for years to come, ensuring the site will never be used for mineral extraction or future industrial use.
“Plus, a unique mix of leisure activities suitable all year round, making it a destination with the community at its heart and somewhere to create unforgettable memories.
“Amber Rock’s diverse facilities will actively encourage longer stays to reduce the number of day trips, while specific check-in/check-out times will be applied to reduce effects of peak traffic flow. We’ll also
various shuttle buses to transport guests to local attractions.”
The online consultation is viewable at www.amberrockresort.com.
The developers say extensive work has been carried out to assess the impact of traffic to and from the site during construction and when it is operational, to avoid a negative impact on the nearby tramway village, Sherwood Foresters Monument and Crich itself.
The brownfield development would be built entirely in the quarry to obscure it from view, much of the project would be built using materials from the site itself, recycled timber, straw bales and glass.
The hotel complex would sit 10 metres below the rim of the quarry, close to the Sherwood Foresters Monument, with a grass roof installed in an aim to reduce its visual impact.
All of the car parking for the site, which would have more than 800 spaces, would be built below ground. Access to the parking would be through a tunnel with the main route through the existing Crich Tramway Village.
During construction, the project would create 200 jobs, and once operational the site would have 100 full-time and part-time jobs.