Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

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25 Sep 2019

Health and wellbeing focus for Eden Project North

A focus on health and wellbeing for both people and the environment is a key focus for Eden Project North, the proposed visitor experience coming to Morecambe, UK in 2023.

Si Bellamy, head of Eden Project International, said that a series of zones will "inspire wonder and connection with the natural world" and would bring these themes to life through an "immersive and unique visitor experience".

The zones will be housed in the mussel shell-shaped domes already revealed in early renderings of the attraction, with each linked by an entrance area known as Bay Hall.

There will be four zones: the Above the Bay area will be an environment filled with plants and art exhibits, showcasing natural abundance and the rhythms of life linked to the sun; Below the Bay will be an immersive series of theatrical experiences that bring to life the lunar rhythms and tides. The Natural Sanctuary will be an area focused on the health-giving aspects of the seaside, with bookable wellbeing treatments. The Natural Observatory will be the home of Eden Project North's research and education programmes.

As well as these internal zones, there is also a plan to create "satellite elements" on the promenade that runs along the seafront and on the sands of Morecambe Bay itself. There will also be a 4,000-capacity outdoor arena designed for live music and entertainment.

Delivering a keynote at the North Lancs Expo in Lancaster, Bellamy said: "We know that the community have been keen to hear more and we hope that these new details energise people in Morecambe as much as they have us."

Due to open in Q2 2023, following a two-year construction period, Eden Project North will attract an estiamted 760,000 visitors per year. It will, however, be designed to accommodate up to a million per year, with a daily capacity of 4,000 people and tickets issued for specific times to ensure a smooth flow of visitors.

In June this year, Eden submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report to Lancaster City Council. A detailed public and stakeholder consultation is due to start soon, with a planning application for the project to be submitted in Q2 2020.