North Yorkshire luxury lodges scheme receives backing from tourism chief

A proposed development of luxury lodges at Sutton on the Forest near Easingwold, has received strong support from local planners, and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity.

The Forest Lakes project, developed by Yorkshire-based firm Luxury Lodge Group, features 46 eco-friendly, high-spec wooden lodges, each with two three or four bedrooms, located on an 11-acre lakeside site on the fringes of the village of Sutton on the Forest.

Due to open in 2016, the scheme is expected to bring economic benefits to the rural area, creating 124 new jobs, including 44 on the Forest Lakes site. The scheme would be the first five-star development of its type in Yorkshire, with a spa, restaurant, delicatessen and village store all on site.

Luxury Lodge Group, which has been working on the Forest Lakes proposals for over two years, has conducted detailed studies into the potential effect of the scheme on the local area, examining issues including transport and pollution as well as the impact on the local ecosystem and wildlife.

The scheme, which has received some local opposition, won support from planners at Hambleton District Council due to its positive effect on the local rural economy and its environmentally sensitive design credentials.

Ahead of the planning meeting, Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity wrote to lend his support to the development.

In a letter to Hambleton planners, Sir Gary said that Welcome to Yorkshire was giving its full backing to the Forest Lakes scheme, which the organisation believed would attract high end, high spending visitors to the area.

Sir Gary believes that the jobs created by the development, as well as the boost of visitor spending on eating, drinking and days out, would make the luxury scheme an economic asset to the area.

Sir Gary said: “With more people opting to holiday in Yorkshire it’s important the county offers accommodation that caters for every taste and budget. Luxurious holidays are becoming ever more popular and a development such as Forest Lakes will no doubt prove incredibly popular with those who wish to treat themselves to a five-star base from which to explore this great county.”

Richard Burns, development director of Luxury Lodge Group, added: “We are really proud of this development and our whole team has put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring that Forest Lakes fits seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and is an asset to the local area. The final design was shaped by an independent review panel to ensure the scheme is attractive both from the site and the surrounding area.

“As well as lasting economic benefits of the development, the new facilities that will be included in the scheme will, I know, be welcomed by many in the area. The bar, brasserie and luxury health spa will all be open to local members, as well as residents.”

Luxury Lodge Group has already received enquiries about the scheme from people interested in acquiring a luxury second home close to the North York Moors, the east coast and Yorkshire Dales, at prices that undercut those in the south of England’s property market.

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