Plans to expand Honeysuckle Country Park in Widdrington, Northumberland, have been approved, paving the way for new amenities and accommodation designed to enhance the visitor experience while supporting local employment and tourism.
The approved development includes the construction of a new visitor center featuring a café, restaurant, and farm shop that will promote local produce.
The expansion also provides for 68 new single-story mobile homes and 22 mobile caravan pitches, as well as a management and sales office and a new toilet block.
According to the planning documents submitted on behalf of park owner John Buckland, the project aims to create a more comprehensive visitor offering while integrating with the surrounding environment.
The site sits next to Widdrington Lakes Holiday Park and near the Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s “Wilding West Chevington” initiative, a large-scale rewilding effort focused on regenerating areas previously affected by opencast coal mining.
Senior planning officer Ryan Soulsby noted that concerns raised by nearby residents were considered as part of the decision-making process.
“The local planning authority are satisfied that the proposed development would not adversely impact upon the amenity of neighboring residents,” Soulsby stated in the report approving the plans.
“Whilst there may be some disruption during the construction phase on site, this will be temporary in nature and the retention of landscaping along shared boundaries should provide some mitigation to this.”
Although three residents objected to the proposal, citing potential loss of privacy and fears of anti-social behavior, no statutory consultees lodged objections. The county’s highways department approved the plans on the condition that a full travel plan be submitted within 12 months of the park’s opening.
The project includes a £31,000 contribution to the Coastal Mitigation Service and is expected to generate 12 jobs in the café and restaurant, three in management and sales, and two in site maintenance.
Additional employment opportunities are anticipated during construction and through indirect support for local suppliers, trades, and service providers, according to the Northumberland Gazette.
Environmental features form a key part of the development, including a new woodland meadow to promote biodiversity, retention of existing trees, and open recreational areas for leisure and children’s play.
The northern section of the site will be reserved for informal walks and a soft play area, while access to newly created habitats north of the watercourse will remain restricted to protect wildlife.
For holiday park operators and developers, the Honeysuckle Country Park expansion highlights the ongoing balance between site growth, local engagement, and sustainable tourism.
The inclusion of locally sourced food outlets and natural landscaping demonstrates a model that integrates economic development with environmental stewardship—an approach increasingly relevant for operators navigating both community expectations and visitor demand.