Unlike many other consultancies our team has direct hands on experience of investing in, developing and managing visitor attractions, including an environmental discovery park and major heritage centre through the experience of our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited (PSL).

PSL operates Conkers an environmentally themed visitor attraction in the National Forest.  Conkers extends over some 120 acres and includes an interactive Discovery Centre.  The visitor experience includes interactive exhibits, internal and external play areas, cafes, specialist gift shop, a train linking the two centres, a covered amphitheatre (which has hosted events by artists such as The Commitments) and an education and lifelong learning programme. Conkers generates some 220,000 visits per annum and also has a strong community membership scheme.  Planning Solutions Limited has been involved with the Conkers project (and formerly National Forest Visitor Centre) since its inception in 1997 and has seen it develop into a regionally important visitor experience.
 

We also prepared the business plan with KPMG which secured £16 million Development funding. Conkers is located in the National Forest and Conkers has helped to raise the profile of this emerging tourist destination.  Conkers has been very successful in gaining commercial sponsorship to invest in the visitor experience.

PSL has also invested in and re-opened the former Bass Museum, as the National Brewery Centre – the Museum of Brewing in Burton upon Trent.  The heritage experience has been developed over a large site  incorporating several buildings, including a Grade 2 listed property. We assisted in developing a new comprehensive visitor offer to ‘broaden access’ and introduce new revenue generating opportunities.  The visitor offer includes guided tours, coffee shop and retail area, corporate offer, events programme, restaurant and bar area.  There is also an education programme linked to the National Curriculum.

We have found that this practical operational experience helps to create a significant positive impact when working with funders and brings a strong commercial realism to projects.  We understand the challenges faced by the visitor attraction sector and how to develop projects which are commercially viable, meet the needs of the market and other needs such as education and learning and community engagement.