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Kingswood’s Plans for former Earth Centre approved

Plans by Kingswood Learning and Leisure to transform the former Earth Centre into a flagship activity centre for schoolchildren have been granted full approval by Doncaster Council’s planning committee (today, 19 July 2011).

Kingswood is the preferred purchaser of the site at Denaby Main.  The grant of planning permission is a major milestone on the road to completing the sale, which is envisaged to take place in mid-late August 2011.

As well as attracting thousands of visitors from across the UK to the borough each year, Kingswood aim to create around 200 new jobs, including dedicated apprenticeship schemes for local colleges.  Kingswood has also agreed a substantial subsidy for schools in Doncaster to make the proposed site accessible to local children and young people.

Peter Davies, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “I am delighted to see Kingswood’s proposals passing this vital planning phase.  A real strength of the plans is that they represent a natural continuation of the site’s heritage as a centre for learning focused on environmental sustainability.

“Most importantly, Kingswood is an established company which already operates eight outdoor activity centres in the UK and a further one in France.  They will run this new site as a wholly private enterprise.”

 

Councillor Chris McGuinness, Chair of the Planning Committee, said: “Although the site is located within Green Belt, the committee considered that the development is acceptable in terms of its impact upon the area, ecology, highways, flood risk and sustainability.

“Kingswood’s plans will bring this major site back into an educational use which will benefit the people of Doncaster.”

Linda Addy, Managing Director Kingswood, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of the planning committee which follows a hugely positive public consultation and we look forward to confirming more details about the Kingswood Dearne Valley Centre as soon as we have final planning approval.”