Plan submitted for Earth Centre site

This week Kingswood released an artist’s impression of the multi-million pound project which has been officially named the Dearne Valley Activity Centre.

The company, which runs eight other residential centres in the UK, recently held a public exhibition to share their ideas with the community.

Paul Gilbert, chief executive of Kingswood, said: “After discussing our plans with the community, I’m pleased to confirm that we are calling our new educational facility

The Kingswood Dearne Valley Centre and have submitted our proposals for the new centre to Doncaster Council.

“We intend to create a multi-million pound flagship residential activity centre on the site, continuing the site’s heritage as a centre for learning for children and young people, focused on environmental sustainability.”

The proposals are to retain and refurbish the site’s existing buildings as well as build new accommodation for students and teachers.

The Dearne Valley Activity Centre will feature an 11,000 sq ft indoor activity and sports hall, classrooms for ICT and meeting rooms.

Facilities include a ropes park for team building activities and outdoor amphitheatres and performing arts facilities. 

The 50-acre site was sold to Kingswood in March this year with the promise of up to 200 jobs.

The on the site of the former Cadeby Colliery, closed in 2004 after failing to attract enough visitors.

The former ‘green adventure centre’  opened in 1999 on the site of the former Cadeby Colliery at a cost of £55 million but was closed in 2004 after failing to attract enough people.

When the centre went bankrupt most of the land passed back to Doncaster Council, with some reverting to the Millennium Commission.

It is hoped that the new centre will open its doors in spring next year.

For more information visit www.kingswood.co.uk or call 01603 309300.

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