Huge water and adventure park is opening in the North West

A huge new leisure facility will be opening just an hour away from Greater Manchester where people can take part in various water sports.

Planning permission has been granted for the new water park to be built on the edge of the River Ribble near Preston Marina, which can be accessed off Wallend Road.

The development will involve a radical revamp of the existing Trax Motor Centre site and will offer water sports including canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and water-skiing.

The current site has long been used for motocross and go-karting open to the public, while it is also part of a wider project providing training and education facilities for children in care. 

New plans for the plot, which have been approved by Preston City Council’s planning committee, will be redeveloped to create a ‘leisure lake’, dry ski slope and mountain biking track on what has been named Phoenix Park.

Around a third of the 33 hectare site will be transformed into the new water park which will also hold a 12m-high dry ski slope.

Thirteen lodges to be built on the lakeside will be used as ‘transitional accommodation’ for post 16-year-old students.

These are designed to give them a greater degree of independence, while still delivering the ongoing support and supervision that they may require.

For members of the public who wish to take part in the leisure activities on offer, there will be an advanced booking system in place.