Abandoned UK theme park eyed up to become 'Center Parcs by the sea'

A New Vision for Pleasure Island

The abandoned Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes, which closed in 2016 after 23 years of operation, is the subject of a £70 million redevelopment proposal that would transform the 54-acre site into a holiday complex resembling "Center Parcs by the sea." The development, backed by a consortium of companies, includes 272 holiday lodges, two hotels, restaurants, and a Lidl store, with plans to repurpose the site's lake for recreational use.

The proposal, which was lodged in January 2023 by Seaside Getaways, Church Lane Humberston Ltd, Lidl GB Ltd, and YPG Fab2 Ltd, would cover a 60-acre area. The development includes two five-storey hotels—one with 148 rooms and the other with 58 rooms—alongside a drive-thru coffee shop, garden centre, retail units, and a cycle hire centre. All existing structures on the site are earmarked for demolition, with the lake set to become a hub with changing facilities, toilets, and lockers.

The theme park, which opened in 1993, was serving the seaside town's visitors until its closure due to declining visitor numbers. Two years after closure, its ride fixtures were sold at auction, leaving the site haven gradually decayed. The redevelopment aims to breathe new life into the now-unervy landscape, which has been described as "eerie" and "abandoned" in recent reports.

Committee Deferral Amid Objections

The planning application was brought before the local council's planning committee on Wednesday, 8 July. At the meeting, the committee received letters of objection to the proposal, prompting Ms Lovejoy, who chairs the meeting, to recommend that a decision be deferred. The committee confirmed the deferral to allow officers time to carefully consider the objections.

The exact nature of the objections has not been detailed, but the deferral underscores the need to address community concerns before a verdict is reached. The development's backers have emphasized the potential benefits, with approximately 400 jobs expected to be created if the project is approved, plus an additional 400 roles during the construction phase.

Before a final decision can be made, the proposal also requires thorough environmental assessments, flood risk evaluations, and ecological impact analyses to ensure the development aligns with planning and environmental standards.

The concept of a "Center Parcs by the sea" has been central to the developer's vision, which aims to attract visitors to the coastal area of North East Lincolnshire. The project would replace the remaining structures on the site with a Lidl superstore, garden centre, retail space, and cycle hire centre, alongside the leisure vision centered around the lake.

A Hopeful Future

The proposal has been met with a note of cautious optimism, with observers noting the "fresh hope" that the redevelopment brings for the neglected attraction. The former theme park, which once welcomed tens of thousands of visitors each year, could embark on a new chapter if the planning permission is granted.

In the coming weeks, the committee will revisit the application, taking into account the objections and the thorough assessments required. The outcome will determine whether the former Pleasure Island will achieve its transformation into a thriving seaside holiday destination, rather than remaining an abandoned relic of the past.