Work begins on new boathouse and leisure facilities at Kings Mill Reservoir

The project, on behalf of Ashfield District Council, started in July 2023, and is anticipated to complete in late 2024.

Accelerated through our Construction framework, the new facilities are being delivered by Lindum Group and its local supply chain. Once finished, the facilities will provide modern, accessible changing and storage areas for water sports on the ground floor, and space for a restaurant and function area on the first floor.

This will complement and support the rapid expansion at Mill Adventure Base, a neighbouring, purpose-built urban adventure centre, forming part of the visitor centre, which was designed and delivered by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between SCAPE and Nottinghamshire County Council.

Cllr Relf continued, "nature will always be at the heart of Kings Mill Reservoir and the Council is committed to providing more habitats for the birds, insects, and mammals that live here.”

The scope for the upgrades at Kings Mill also included the creation of a newly finished car park extension to accommodate more visitors, which will be open for use once a barrier has been added, to prevent use overnight when the reservoir is closed to visitors. In keeping with the sustainable approach used across the park, native hedging and trees will be planted to increase biodiversity, and the impact of potential flooding will be mitigated by using a permeable surface in these areas.

Lindum will also arrange the safe demolition and removal of an existing boathouse, which will then be replaced with a new two-storey structure to ensure its contents are safe, secure and protected from the weather.

The project is one of 16 in the district that is being funded by £62.6m of Towns Funding from the UK Government, which has been allocated to regenerate Ashfield and create a district that is innovative, attractive to tourists, and for investment. Once finished, the new leisure facilities will provide greater access to water sports and activities including sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and open water swimming at the reservoir.

The space is already a well-loved, well-used destination in the area, and will provide a much-needed boost to tourism in the East Midlands, and increased support for health and wellbeing in the community.