A country park built on former colliery land in Kent, England, has been placed on the market, with the sales materials outlining potential future uses that include a holiday lodge development and a small-scale industrial estate.
Betteshanger Country Park, located near Deal and welcoming around 100,000 visitors annually, is being offered for sale without a publicly listed asking price for its freehold.
The listing is being marketed by real estate advisors JLL Investor Center and references earlier redevelopment plans, including an approved scheme for a 120-room hotel and surf lagoon. Planning permission for that project was granted in March 2024 by Dover District Council.
However, progress has since been delayed after opponents reportedly threatened a judicial review, contributing to uncertainty that ultimately led to the expiration of a contract with an interested hotel operator.
Despite the delays, the planning consent remains active. The sales materials state that the site has “potential to generate an attractive and diversified income stream” and that it “lends itself to a wide range of events, large and small” while presenting an “exciting opportunity to acquire an established country park with exceptional development and alternative use potential”.
According to Quinn Estates, which is involved with the site, a feasibility study has also examined “the delivery of up to 150 holiday lodges” as a potential alternative or additional use.
The marketing materials further suggest there is “potential for up to 10 acres of brownfield land capable of delivering a mix of light industrial, rural office, workshop and open/self-storage facilities delivering a strong cashflow”. It also notes that new owners would be able to “explore planning potential” for these uses over time.
The park’s future has been under discussion for several years, with operators previously citing viability challenges and stating they were contributing around £2,000 per week to keep the site open to the public.
In February, park management told KentOnline: “Whilst a long-term decision about the future of the park remains in question, we will continue to work with DDC and others to explore options that, with their support, could help to make the park viable in the longer term.”
A spokesperson for Betteshanger Country Park said: “The privately owned park is currently being advertised as part of a funding process with a view to securing its long-term future.
“Over recent years, the park has successfully struck a careful balance between protecting and enhancing its natural habitats while remaining a vibrant, accessible space for visitors.
“Ongoing investment in ecological work has helped support the return of rare species that were thought to be extinct in the UK.
“The park continues to offer a diverse programme of events for 2026, including the Betteshanger Rocks music festival, sporting challenges, charity events and a range of nature-based activities for all ages; as well as fast becoming one of the areas’ most sought-after wedding venues.
“It has also become an important hub for community initiatives, including the Canterbury Bike Project and the Mining Museum.
“The park and its facilities remain open, and it is very much business as usual.”
Quinn Estates has been contacted for additional details regarding the proposed lodge and commercial elements included in the latest sales documentation.
Betteshanger Country Park spans approximately 230 acres (93 hectares) and opened in 2007. It currently features a network of 15 kilometers (nine miles) of leisure paths, 3.5 kilometers (two miles) of traffic-free cycling routes, and 11 kilometers (seven miles) of mountain bike trails. Additional activities include archery, forest school programs, fossil hunting, and orienteering, alongside event programming throughout the year.
The site also includes a café and restaurant and is home to the Kent Mining Museum, which documents the history of the Kent Coalfield. The land was previously part of Betteshanger Colliery spoil grounds, once associated with the largest of four coal mines in Kent. The colliery opened in 1924 and closed in 1989, having employed more than 2,000 workers at its peak in 1945.
For outdoor hospitality and leisure operators, the sale reflects broader trends in repurposing large-scale brownfield recreational assets into mixed-use destinations.
The combination of visitor economy infrastructure, long-term planning uncertainty, and proposed diversification into accommodation and light commercial space highlights how legacy recreational sites are increasingly being evaluated not only on tourism performance but also on development yield potential and year-round revenue streams.
The inclusion of holiday lodges and flexible commercial units in the feasibility work mirrors strategies seen in other parks seeking to stabilize income beyond seasonal visitation.
The Friends of Betteshanger group, which focuses on biodiversity protection at the site, said it was too early to comment on the sale.