A long-derelict theme park site in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, is set to be transformed into a large-scale coastal holiday resort, pending a planning decision by North East Lincolnshire Council that has been delayed by legal representations and environmental objections. The 60-acre former Pleasure Island site, which closed in 2016 after 23 years of operation, could become home to two five-storey hotels, 272 holiday lodges, a casino, a Lidl superstore, a drive-through coffee shop, and cycle-hire facilities, under proposals submitted to the council in 2023.
The scheme, situated off Kings Road and within walking distance of Cleethorpes Beach, is designed to function as a Centre Parcs-style destination by the sea. Its centrepiece would be a 148-room hotel alongside the existing lake, which is also earmarked for an angling hub. Shops, restaurants, and associated leisure facilities would complete the offering, according to plans that have been publicly illustrated through mock-up images showing large buildings arranged around the lakeside.
Councillors have yet to reach a final decision. Two late legal representations submitted in July prompted planning committee manager Martin Dixon to advise that outstanding matters required resolution before the application could proceed. “The legal team advise that there are things we need to bottom out in terms of that,” Dixon told this month’s planning committee. The decision has been deferred, with the application expected to return before councillors at the August meeting.
The planning process has faced obstacles beyond procedural delay. The Environment Agency lodged a formal objection in 2024 against amendments to the scheme, specifically targeting a proposed new bridge over the Buck Beck. Environmental assessments have added further time to what has already been a protracted review since the original submission two years ago.
Pleasure Island had attracted both local residents and seasonal visitors throughout its operational life before closing in 2016, with its rides subsequently sold off in 2018. Councillors have previously indicated broad support for the redevelopment as an appropriate use of the brownfield land, though no opening timeline has been established pending the outcome of the planning decision.