Legoland Windsor Resort have today been granted planning permission for their Long Term Development Plan, paving the way for eight projects at the Resort.
First submitted back in June 2017, the Long Term Development Plan includes details for four new rides, a holiday village (to be built in three phases), an extension to ‘The Beginning’ which includes an extension to the ‘Big Shop’, and a reconfiguration of the car parking. Initial permission for the plans was granted back in May 2018, however due to the scale and nature of the development, the plans were referred back to the Head of Planning at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council to determine the conditions which would be attached to the schemes. As these conditions were not decided upon within two months the plans were referred back to the Planning Committee.
The approved plans will see a total of eight projects undertaken at the Resort. One of these, the Haunted House, has already been completed with the attraction having gained permission via a separate planning application submitted in March 2018. The remaining seven projects include plans for three ‘attraction zones’ which will feature a new indoor attraction – referred to in some documents as a potential rollercoaster, and two fairground style rides. With Legoland Resort Florida recently opening Lego Movie World, could these ‘attractions zones’ indicate where Windsor’s LEGO Movie World will be located?
‘The Beginning’ area of the Resort will receive a major refresh under the plans, including a 10m high, LEGOLAND Windsor entrance portal, and an extension to the ticket sales and collections building and the guest toilets. The Big Shop will also receive an expansion. The largest development will include both lodge accommodation and ‘Lego Barrels’, similar to those seen in Legoland Deutschland, with a building housing a reception area, restaurant, shop, and entertainment facilities for the new accommodation. A number of infrastructure projects also feature, with a reconfiguration of the car parks, and a change of use for the St Leonards Farm to be used for back of house facilities.
The developments were due to be constructed between the end of 2017 and 2023, however with the delay to the final permission being granted it is currently unknown what the new timescales for the projects will be. However, the conditions attached to the planning consent do state that the projects “shall be begun either before the expiration of five years from the date of this permission, or before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved, whichever is the later”.
As is usual with developments of this scale, there are several conditions attached to the planning permission. These include the need to submit what are known as ‘Reserved Matters’ planning applications with details of layout, appearance, access and landscaping to ensure the developments stay within the scope of what is allowed. Other conditions specified include the need for detailed plans for the final ground levels within the holiday village; samples of materials to be used on the external surfaces within the holiday village; submission of construction management plans; and plans detailing how lighting and noise levels will be managed once the holiday village is occupied. There are also a number of environmental conditions attached to protect the local wildlife, hedgerows, and mature trees.
Are you pleased to see the Long Term Development Plan given the go-ahead? Share your thoughts over on the Attraction Source Forum. Attraction Source will be sure to keep a close eye on all of the projects and will bring you the latest updates as we have them.
