Reserve floats sustainable visitor centre idea
Artist’s impression of the sustainable floating visitor centre
Work has begun on a floating visitor centre at a reclaimed wetland habitat.
Inspired by ancient marshland villages, the new 106ha Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Reserve site, near Preston, will meet the highest official sustainability standards, a first for a UK visitor attraction.
Designed by Adam Khan Architects, the distinctive centre is expected to generate sufficient income to be sustainable from its opening day.
The design will incorporate construction materials such as FSC-certified timber and recycled scaffold boards, while biomass and solar technology will be used to generate heat and electricity.
The centre will float on the edge of one the main areas of water and include an education and exhibition space, shop and a restaurant promoting local produce.
A former gravel extraction site, Brockholes is owned and managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The visitor centre is part of a wider project to turn the area into a premier natural visitor attraction, funded by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) under the Forestry Commission-led land regeneration programme Newlands.
Richard Tracey, NWDA head of environmental quality, described the flagship project as a ‘prime example of how the natural environment can be harnessed to create real economic value’.
‘Brockholes will be a real asset for the local area that will not only provide a distinctive visitor attraction, but will also create new jobs on the site, enhancing quality of life for local residents and encouraging further investment into the area.’
The completed reserve and visitor centre is expected to be open by 2011.
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