A former theme park in Cleethorpes could be transformed into a £70 million holiday destination a decade after it closed. Plans for a “Center Parcs-by-the-sea” style resort have been recommended for approval on the 60-acre site of the former Pleasure Island, which has been derelict since 2016.
What the Development Includes
The proposal features a £70 million Lidl superstore, 272 holiday lodges, two hotels (the largest with 148 rooms), restaurants, retail outlets, a drive-thru coffee shop, and a cycle-hire building. The existing central lake would be used for an anglers’ hub. The development aims to create a major leisure and shopping destination on the long-derelict site.
Supporters say the scheme will create more than 400 jobs and deliver a significant boost to tourism and the local economy. In a report to councillors, officials described the proposal as “an effective use of the land” that would “contribute to the local economy and the vitality of the resort”.
Flood Risk Concerns Addressed
The plans previously faced objections from the Environment Agency (EA) over flood risk concerns. These were withdrawn after additional flood protection measures were included. However, the EA later raised further concerns over the proposed Buck Beck bridge, stating there was “insufficient information to determine whether the bridge would restrict flow in the main river”.
Public Support and History
According to the BBC, when the application was first submitted by Lichfields, the development's agent, 93% of respondents backed the need to regenerate the site. Pleasure Island first opened in Cleethorpes in 1993 and remained a popular family attraction until it closed in 2016. The final rides were sold off in 2018, but most of the site's buildings have remained abandoned, leaving what councillors have described as “a derelict appearance”.
If approved by North East Lincolnshire Council, the redevelopment could breathe new life into one of the town's best-known abandoned attractions, replacing it with a large-scale holiday resort designed to attract visitors back to the Lincolnshire coast.
