Water sports development set for marina site

A water sports lake, dry ski slope and mountain bike track are set to be created near a marina after funding was secured.

Planning permission for the Lancashire scheme was granted by Preston City Council in August 2023 as part of a vision for a radical revamp of the existing Phoenix Park site – home to Trax Off Road Motorsport – on the banks of the River Ribble.

Documents said the applicant, Trax Motorsport founder Eddie Sloane, had "been in the process of securing funding for the project" – and had now done so.

The plans are centred around a "leisure lake" offering sports including water-skiing, windsurfing, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding.

In addition, 13 lodges are to be built on the lakeside and used as "transitional accommodation" for post-16-year-old students in the care system to give them a greater degree of independence, while still providing support and supervision.

The site is currently dominated by motocross and go-karting facilities which, while open to the public, are part of a wider project providing training and education facilities for children in care.

Certain conditions must be met, including contaminated‑land investigations, before building can begin.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached the planning agent for the scheme to ask when the project was likely to be completed and to offer the applicant the opportunity to comment.

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