The Chronicle

Special needs holiday park to provide jobs boost

PLANNERS AGREE TO CENTRE AND LODGES FOR FAMILIES

- By SOPHIE FINNEGAN Reporter sophie.finnegan@trinitymir­ror.com @SophieeFin­negan

A £5M farm experience centre and holiday lodge park in County Durham has been given the green light by planners creating new jobs for the area.

The new site will be built at Woodlands Park Farm in Knitsley near Consett and will consist of a new barn building and nine holiday lodges for rental creating eight full-time roles plus several work experience roles for young adults with special needs.

Each holiday lodge will be specially designed to accommodat­e families who have a family member with special educationa­l needs and disabiliti­es (SEND).

The 410 sq. m agricultur­al style barn building will feature chill/sensory rooms, an art and craft room, meeting rooms, indoor play areas, a cafe and accessible toilets, including a changing places WC.

A further 27 lodges will be available for sale where the purchasers will have the option to adapt their own living space to their specific needs.

The structures will blend into the existing landscape while exterior areas will allow visitors to interact with farm animals and will be able to visit a small petting area which will have rabbits and guinea pigs.

A nature trail through existing woodland will also go ahead together with a car park for 50 spaces including a min of 12 disabled bays and a turning area for coaches to pick up/drop off.

Research indicates that people with special needs can benefit significan­tly from interactin­g with farm animals and the facility at Woodlands Park Farm will be a much-needed resource that people from across the UK can benefit from to improve their lives.

In County Durham, an estimated 14 per cent of pupils in the education system have special education and disability needs, while across England and Wales, 1 in 6 people have activity limiting health problems or disability.

The proposed facility will cater for those living with mental health problems, dementia, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including former armed services personnel.

Director of North East planning consultant­s Hedley Planning Services, Joe Ridgeon, who oversaw the planning applicatio­n, said: “The planners have seen the benefits that this unique farm experience will bring, so we are delighted that the project has been approved.

“It will contribute significan­tly to the well-being and life experience of hundreds of disadvanta­ged and disabled people; undoubtedl­y having a significan­t impact on their lives and families for years to come.”

There will be a range of holiday lodge sizes equipped to provide improved accessibil­ity for people with mobility issues with dedicated car parking spaces.

A lodge for the project manager is also planned together with site landscapin­g, highways access and drainage features including ponds.

Ian Adamson of Woodlands Park Farm said: “This project is hugely important to so many families. We have had many letters from families who have taken the time to write and tell us how much our project would mean to them, for which we are hugely grateful. This level of support has motivated us to continue with our vision.

“There is a huge need for this type of service, and we are thrilled to have this opportunit­y to be able to provide a quiet and restful environmen­t, where families can enjoy the beautiful countrysid­e that we have in the Vale of Durham, no matter what the weather may bring.”

 ??  ?? Hedley Planning Services has secured planning permission for a new farm experience centre and lodge park in County Durham
Hedley Planning Services has secured planning permission for a new farm experience centre and lodge park in County Durham

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom