Surf Cat

A five-star holiday park has applied for planning permission to create an aqua park and wakeboarding facilities.

Delamere Lake Sailing and Holiday Park already has consent for 143 lake-side holiday lodges and a sailing clubhouse at the former Fourways Quarry site, to the south of Chester Road, near Oakmere.

Phase 1 is currently under construction with eight lodges being provided.

Now applicants Haulfryn are seeking permission for a floating rope course – dubbed ‘aqua chimp’ – and a cable wakeboarding facility to complement sailing and water sports facilities previously approved.

A document supporting the application states: “The aqua chimp structure comprises a series of ropes and climbing apparatus which are elevated above the water. This activity will be operated on a seasonal basis but will remain in place throughout the closed period.

“Wakeboarding is a water sport that involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. The rider can be towed behind a motorboat or pulled by a cable as in this case.

Open all year round, there would be two cable wakeboarding systems to cater for varying abilities; one measuring 190 metres in length and the other 110 metres in length.”

Proposals also include the provision of additional storage and changing room facilities.

The document adds: “As with the approved sailing and water sports activities permitted on site, the proposed aqua park and wakeboarding facilities will be subject to customers booking use of the facilities in advance.“

Haulfryn, which has holiday parks across England and Wales, is currently advertising lodges for sale at its Delamere site in a stunning TV commercial with prices from £189,950.

Its website says: “We are delighted to offer for sale a stunning new development of ten lakeside holiday homes at Delamere Sailing and Holiday Park; a beautiful oasis in the midst of the Cheshire plains.

“Situated in Cheshire’s largest area of woodland, with incredible views over the sparkling lake at the heart of the park, Delamere is a haven of wildlife. Here you get the best of both worlds: onsite, find peace in the heart of the lakeland and for those serious about shopping, Chester and its retail opportunities and nightlife is close by.”

The scheme was approved at the Cheshire West and Chester Council planning committee back in 2017 against the advice of planning officers.

Officers had argued the Oakmere plan revealed a ‘lack of emphasis on the water sports activities’ given the number of holiday lodges proposed. In addition, the development was not considered of an appropriate scale in the countryside and regarded as ‘unsustainable’ development.

But minutes of the meeting state: “Members discussed the application in detail, expressing support for the creation of new water sports facilities and the recreational, leisure and social activities that the development would offer.”