£50million scheme set to take off in New Year
WORK to transform Stoneleigh Park into a leading agricultural science and business centre over the next 15 years could start within weeks after final approval was given the go ahead.
Park owners, LaSall Investment Management are now ready to push ahead with their £50 million investment to turn the site into a science park specialising in rural and equine businesses.
The revitalising master plan for the 250 acre site hopes to create 1,500 new jobs and establish a national equine centre and a science park focusing on agriculture and sustainability over 15 years.
And things can now get moving after conditions imposed by Warwick District Council’s highways department have been met.
Bosses at LaSalle, which has a 150-year lease on the land, said tings can now push ahead in the New Year with development on the new Equine Wellbeing Centre and a 35,000 square feet bespoke office building for the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board.
Colin Hooper, Stoneleigh Park Estates director, said this week has been a “major step forward” for the site which can now be utilised to realise its full potential.
“We have spent a great deal of time in devising this masterplan to bring the sort of development we believe Stoneleigh warrants,” he said.
“It has so many things in its favour – location, expertise, tradition, but it has needed investment to make it realise that potential and we are looking forward to starting the work in the New Year.”
Improvements to the site access will start on the North Gate entrance in the spring including widening of the bridge over the River Avon and new junction work.
After that, work will start on the B4113 Stoneleigh to Leamington Road, where a new roundabout at the main entrance to the park will be installed to improve access to the site and safety.
Plans have previously come under fire from heritage groups and residents who said the plans intruded on the Grade II* listed parkland around Stoneleigh Abbey, itself Grade I listed.
But the council planning committee gave outline permission for the scheme in September and all requirements have now been met.
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Weather for Kenilworth
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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