A proposed outdoor sports resort & residential development, partly within the Lake District National Park, offers indications of the approach that might be best taken with quarries and other spoiled environments in Green Belt, rather than keep them undeveloped.
ReardonSmith were challenged by the landowner of a disused quarry in Cumbria to develop proposals for a leisure opportunity for the local community and visitors.
The quarry historically provided the town with a valuable source of grey limestone, which was quarried until the late 19th century. The proposals sought to work with the challenging topography, to create a masterplan for residential housing, holiday lets and a four-star hotel. The nature resort seeks to create a national centre and destination for outdoor sports. The approach aims to retain and enhance biodiversity as part of an overarching masterplan framework and landscape strategy.
The hotel, apartments and conference centre are proposed for the stepped quarry terraces with the quarry walls featuring a series of winding sky-walks and boardwalks affording views down into the central lakes. Active and passive outdoor and nature sports can be catered for, from birdwatching to zipwires.
Design: ReardonSmith
Client: Confidential
Project status: Concept design
This project is part of 'Beyond the Green Belt'
