News
Children can get ready for one big adventure down at Union Hall Farm in Durham following the approval of £200,000 to create an exciting new attraction, set to open late Spring this year.
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) has approved the money via the Durham Business and Community Assets fund, managed by Durham County Council for the Regional Development Agency, One North East.
The new £1m “Adventure Valley” will create at least 15 new jobs and attract over 30,000 visitors per year as well as increasing the numbers of visitors staying overnight in the area.
Union Hall Farm is currently an arable farm with horse livery close to Durham city, just south of Finchale Priory. Adventure Valley will bring together the very best in family fun which will include five zones of action packed play including the Indoor PlayTown (a giant indoor play area), Action Creek, The FarmYard and more.
The site will also hold a car and coach park, as well as provide a new venue for year round educational activities for schools and colleges.
The project is the brainchild of managing director of Union Hall Farm, Marco Calzini who with his family – including his two children aged six and 10 - have been planning and researching for years.
Marco said: “As part of my research, we have visited numerous farm parks, theme parks and zoos in both the UK and abroad to ensure we can create the best project possible to benefit local people and visitors to the area.
“We are hoping to offer a day out that rivals the feel of an American theme park with first-class attractions, facilities, animal fun and an all essential indoor area for children in recognition of the great British weather!
“We are thrilled that we have received this RDPE funding so we can go ahead with our dreams and will be open this summer.”
Adrian Sherwood, One North East’s RDPE Manager said: “This is an exciting project for the region that will create a new tourist attraction for thousands of visitors to enjoy from the North East and further afield.
“This is a glowing example of an innovative business diversifying to not only benefit the company but also the wider region in terms of the economy and tourism, which is exactly what RDPE funding is keen to offer its support to.”
Cllr Claire Vasey, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said this is great news for the local area and wider area: “Such a great project deserves support and I’m delighted that it’s right here on our doorstep – a great facility and much needed too.”
The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and communities. It is managed in North East England by One North East, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.
The RDPE investment being managed by One North East combines larger projects to help many businesses in different sectors of the rural economy - including bioenergy and land-based skills, and projects adding value to agricultural and forestry products - with smaller investments to help individual businesses to start-up, grow or diversify, and support to develop more sustainable rural communities.
RDPE Business Support is part of Solutions for Business, the Government’s package of publicly funded support products offering help to companies to start, grow and succeed. Solutions for Business makes it easier for companies to get the advice and assistance that they need.
For further information on the full package of support, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast.or call Tel: 0845 600 9006.
For more information on RDPE in North East England, visit: www.rdpenortheast.co.uk
For more information on RDPE, visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/index.htm
Ends.
For more information about Adventure Valley please contact Anita Waddell or Simone Hayes on
01442 870614 or email simone@agility-marketing.co.uk
For more information about the RDPE funding, contact Andy Aston (press office) on 0191 229 6894 or email andy.aston@onenortheast.co.uk.
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