Showground plans underway ‘in a year’

Work on a £50 million leisure village-led development of the East of England Showground could start this time next year, it has been claimed.

Spades could go in the ground by next April to begin a transformation of the 164 acre site at Alwalton which will see the construction of a multi-use leisure village and 1,500 homes. Operators for sports and leisure activities and a national housing developerhavealreadybeensigned up to the project.

Ashley Butterfield, chief executive of AEPG, the land promoter chosen by Showground owners, the East of England Agricultural Society, said: “We are hoping that Peterborough City Council will consider our applications in June or July of this year.

"We hope to see spades in the ground to start development this time next year. We alreadyhaveoperatorsforour leisure village and a developer for the homes committed and ready to go as soon as we get planning approval.”

AEPG has submitted two outlineplanningapplications. One is for 650 homes already allocated for part of the site by the council in its Local Plan.

The second is for the leisure village and a further 850 homes. Mr Butterfield said: “There has been a lot of support for our proposals from business organisations, charities and the public.

"The development will deliver 500 jobs and create valuable income for the city.”

The central feature is 50 acres devoted to active family entertainment, sport and leisure, called Cultura Place.

Designedbyleisureattractions specialist Greenspan, the creator of Volcano Falls in Milton Keynes, the Showground’sleisurevillagewillinclude an indoor arena, a court forapadel–amixoftennisand squash–atwostorey,state-ofthe-artgolfdrivingrange,azip coaster,climbingwall,bungee trampolines, a jump tower and bounce pillow, mini Land Rovers, a bike trail and more.

The 4,640 square metre indoor family entertainment centre will contain a range of activities from axe throwing to interactive darts, table tennis, a bowling alley, a 12 hole adventure golf and high ropes area, pool and football tables, a trampoline zone and climbing walls.

Thevillagewillalsoinclude a250-bedhotel,aschoolanda retirementvillageoverseenby theExtracarecharitabletrust.

This map shows the development proposals for the East of England Showground.