PROJECT NAME: / The Grizedale Project
the Project helpS to:
Maximise the economic potential of the region’s rural areas / Support sustainable farming and food / Improve access to affordable rural housing / Ensure fair access to services for rural communities / Empower rural communities and addressing rural social exclusion / Enhance the value of our rural environmental inheritance
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What is the Project?
The Grizedale Project is a sustainable tourism development project based around redevelopment of Grizedale Visitor Centre to provide improved visitor facilities, new activities and enhanced visitor experience. The project aims to promote and maximise the resource of the visitor centre as a year round sustainable development opportunity for the local business economy and community whilst protecting the natural assets of the area on a landscape scale. The main focus of the project is redevelopment of the infrastructure of the visitor centre to provide 21st century quality facilities, new flexible spaces able to respond to changes in visitor market requirements, extension of the visitor season into the shoulder periods through joint marketing and promotion activities, an increase in visitor spend by encouraging visitors to stay longer and support for sustainable transport initiatives to encourage visitors to access the centre and valley in a sustainable way. The project specifically includes creation of new rural business space through provision of 4 new craft workshops and 3 new ‘Have a Go’ craft workshops for craft activities, provision of new visitor information, café and meeting/function room facilities, new Resource centre for training, education and community use, development of a woodfuel heating system and local woodfuel supply chain, new car park and improved visitor facilities, access and site circulation together with extensively improved and landscaped environs of the visitor centre.
Where is the Project based and what area does it cover?
Grizedale Visitor Centre is located in the centre of Grizedale forest 2.5 miles south of Hawkshead between Coniston Water, Windermere, Hawkshead and the A590, grid Reference SD 335944.
Why was it set up?
The existing Visitor Centre can no longer cope with the 250,000 visitors it receives each year. In addition the project was set up to:To enhance the quality of the visitor experience at Grizedale,To help rural businesses achieve financial sustainability by encouraging visitors to stay longer, To maximise the economic value and potential of Grizedale for the local economy, community and region, To broaden the existing environmental education programme , To maximise the commercial use of the existing Grizedale assets by local businesses
How is the Service Funded?
The visitor centre, education, access and recreation services run by the Forestry Commission through Grizedale visitor centre are funded by a combination of rental and percentage of turnover income from the three on site businesses, revenue from the Forestry Commission run pay and display car parks, shop, education service, on site hostel accommodation and core government funding of the Forestry Commission. The project proposals will encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more in addition to creating new rental income businesses to contribute to the running costs of the centre. Government funding for the Forestry Commission public access, education and recreation services is assured long term.
Who has benefited and how?
On implementation of the project the local economy, businesses, community and visitors to Grizedale and the Lake District will benefit from the project through increased and improved quality of services and facilities available at the visitor centre and new community, access and business opportunities, safeguarded and new jobs for the local area, safeguarded and new visitor sales for the local economy, healthy recreation activities.
What are the key factors for success?
Key factors for success of the project are: raising the profile of the project with key agencies and people who will act as champions for the project; working in partnership in the development of the project; ensuring the project is included in any relevant strategic action plans. Extensive communications with funders, planners, supporters and design team, and tight contract management of the implementation of the building works on site to ensure quality and completion to budget and timescale.
What lessons have been learnt?
  • Thorough scoping and development of the project elements
  • Early consultations with the planning authority
  • Identify appropriate funding streams
  • Early consultations with funders as to likely amounts of funding available
  • Identify how your project fits local, regional and national strategic plans and objectives
  • Identify key partners, agencies and people who are likely to be supportive
  • Always allow more time for project development, planning and funding approval

What are the Project’s plans for the future?
Implementation of the project proposals once funding and planning permission are approved. All being well the project should start on site in autumn 2006 for completion by 31 March 2008.
Contact details for Project
Susan Manson, Grizedale Project Manager or Graeme Prest, North WestForest District Manager.
The Forestry Commission, North West England Forest DistrictGrizedale, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJ01229 860373