Two Brownfield Sites for Residential and Leisure Development For Sale - Whittlesey nr Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
 
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Business description
Two freehold “brownfield” sites totalling approx 40 acres with untapped potential for residential, care, infill and further leisure development. Home to the UK’s leading business of inland diving lakes and training.

Gildenburgh Water
28-room detached house with 2 self-contained apartments and private fishing lake in wooded grounds
2600sf single storey clubhouse, shop, bar, and restaurant
22-hour “multi-activity” premises license and alcohol till 5am
PADI 5-Star Career Development Centre
Classrooms, rental store, and budget caravan accommodation
Maintenance and storage facilities

Parnells Lake
3.5 acre lake with potential for 100 anglers.
Famous for prime carp fishing.
Nurtured by the wildlife development policy of its owners.

Including an existing, professionally-designed and developed paintball area, it is already one of the country’s top venues attracting thousands of participants throughout the year.

The sister development site and National Inland Diving Lake, Dosthill Quarry, is available as a separate parcel at £600,000.
 
Years established: 24
Employees: 6 full-time, 30+ part-time
Trading hours: Licensed for 22-7
 
Property
Freehold
 
Living accomodation
An impressive 28-room detached house with 2 self-contained apartments, built in 1995 in wooded grounds, with private fishing lake, is located on the site and included in the sale arrangement. Basement comprising function room; WC/toilet; plant room; storage/services room; self-contained, private access apartment with lounge, walled courtyard, metal staircase to ground level, bedroom, 4-piece en-suite, fully-appointed galley kitchen/diner, and staircase to ground floor. Ground floor comprising self-contained, indoor heated pool, 2 changing rooms, footbath, WC/toilet, and triple poolside shower, specially designed for diving and which could be profitably rented to neighbouring dive operators; self-contained, private access apartment with lounge, overlooking, and with access to grounds and lake, bedroom, 3-piece/2 door en-suite, fully-appointed kitchen/diner; double-bed guest room; utility room with access to external patio, matching brick outhouse and grounds; entrance hall and staircase to first floor. First floor enjoying stunning 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside comprising main lounge with through study; master bedroom, 4-piece / 2-door en-suite, double-bed guest room, double-bunk guestroom, fully appointed kitchen with Aga; 12-seater dining room; substantially boarded attic.
 
Location
Wooded, country estate only 7 miles south east of Peterborough, a modern, progressive city located in one of the UK’s fastest growing regions, with a catchment area of 28.2 million.

Barely 10 mins from the A1 link to London and the North, and A14/M1 to Birmingham, the area has excellent road & rail links to the rest of the country e.g. 1 hour’s drive and 47 minutes by rail from London.
 
Expansion potential
Comprising 2 original “brownfield” properties totalling approx 40 acres such a large site has potential for many other business, commercial and leisure opportunities, including untapped potential for residential, care, infill and further leisure development supported by Government policy. Full leisure planning approval has been granted for the following additional facilities:- 8400sf health centre with activity rooms, fitness studio and retail store Social, function and conference centre (also 8400sf) with pub-nightclub, 3 restaurants and 42-bedroom hotel 75-berth touring caravan park Utility centre Fishing Lodge 700+ car parking An updated Premises License for 22 hours trading per day was granted unopposed in 2005, with supply of alcohol till 5am, and 12 additional "activity" licences including outdoor festivals with live music. Hotel and meeting facilities will enable teambuilding events to be offered to the corporate sector. The site enjoys unique direct access onto the region’s “Millennium Green Wheel” cycle route from Peterborough to March, making it the perfect tourist base to enjoy the local area by cycle, foot or canoe. The undulating woodland terrain makes an interesting mountain bike, or trail bike, course. The cycling, running and swimming facilities could form the basis of a regional triathlon facility, while the lake would be excellent for introductory courses in sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, and windsurfing. The adjacent Parnells Lake offers specialist carp and coarse fishing. The touring caravan park would provide a convenient location from which to explore local waterways by canoe or boat, or the adjoining Nature Reserve and other tourist attractions in the Fenland area.
 
Support & training
The owner is a qualified teacher, and the business specialises in training. An extended support or training package could be provided to a successful buyer by negotiation.
 
Reasons for selling
Starting from the formation of a small local dive centre 24 years ago, this family-owned and run business has grown into the UK’s leading group of freehold inland diving lakes, dive centres and related leisure properties. However, since both properties are original “brownfield” sites totalling approx 40 acres they offer untapped potential for residential, care, infill and further leisure development supported by Government policy. The scale and expertise of such a venture is beyond the current owners. As they approach retirement, mixed with some health issues, they have paved the way for entrepreneurial new owners to maximise the potential of these properties.
 
 
 
This advert is awaiting renewal
 
 
Financial Details
Asking price:
£7,000,000