FCFM Group has submitted plans to develop a £50m holiday resort at Astbury Hall near Bridgnorth by summer 2020, including about 300 lodges, sports facilities and 120 jobs.
The Astbury Hall Estate was acquired by the development and investment firm earlier this year, which was formerly owned by KK Downing, guitarist for Judas Priest, Downing bought it in 1985 and developed a top-of-the-range 18-hole course within its grounds, with the ambition of hosting the Open Championship
The proposals have been submitted to Shropshire Council in three sections. The first includes building a leisure and spa building, two swimming pools, a farm shop, a function room, restaurant and spa, an outdoor lido pool, tennis courts, bowling greens, a new nine-hole golf course and an 18-hole putting green. The second and third applications are for 135 and 140 holiday let lodges around the 354 acre estate.
The farm shop selling local farm produce and goods from local suppliers will provide for those self-catering, whilst a wide range of restaurants and food outlets would provide dining for those not wishing to cook.
The company has said that the development would bring around £3.5m in to the local economy each year. It stated, 'The benefit to the local community is not only the jobs, it is the secondary impact from visitors who will go out for meals, go into towns and use local shops. There is not just the employment but the secondary impact too.'
FCFM said it hoped to secure planning permission by next spring, and for a 12 to 15-month building programme to be concluded by the latter part of summer 2020.
