News: Hotel Extension Approved for Legoland Windsor

[StealthFan]

A TOP level meeting between borough planners and the company behind the Legoland theme park will attempt to work out a long-term strategy for the future.

 

The meeting will follow a unanimous decision made by Royal Borough planning councillors on Wednesday to allow a 61-bedroom extension to be added to the Winkfield Road theme park’s existing hotel.

 

But councillors are still concerned by the growing number of applications that have been coming their way from the famous theme park.

 

Councillor Malcolm Alexander – vice chairman of the Windsor Urban Development Control Panel which gave the thumbs up for the plan – said members were constantly playing ‘catch up’ as they tried to forge a travel plan to cope with traffic produced by Legoland’s ever-growing popularity.

 

He said: “Legoland needs to provide us with a master plan, rather than piecemeal applications.

 

“A travel plan can’t work until we have the complete picture.”

 

At the meeting, the borough’s planning manager Jenifer Jackson revealed that she would soon be meeting representatives from Merlin Entertainments, the company behind Legoland, to discuss future plans.

 

Councillors’ decision to agree to the hotel extension might not be the end of the matter. The site’s Green Belt status means that the plan has to be formally referred to the secretary of state for communities and local government for a final decision – although he may decline to get involved, in which case the council’s approval will stand.

 

Major concern at Wednesday’s meeting was expressed by Windsor resident Vivienne Allen.

 

Mrs Allen said that traffic to Legoland had increased massively as the theme added new attractions, leading to air pollution becoming a major problem around the St Leonard’s Road,/Imperial Road areas. She said the company had failed to come up with a travel plan in the past.

 

Ingrid Fernandes, strategic development director at Legoland, told councillors it was felt increasing the size of the hotel could help reduce congestion by bringing visitors to the theme park at varied times.

Source

 

So with Ghost having been approved and the hotel extension approved it looks like Legoland is going to get some new life injected into it once again. Sadly the installation of the hotel extension does mean the removal of the Dino Safari ride and the parks nicest toilets, but with Ghost coming at least the amount of attractions won't be reduced.

 

If you didn't get to experience Dino Safari check out this POV from last year.

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What are your thoughts about the hotel extension? Would you prefer more new attractions before the hotel gets extended? Will you stay in the hotel when complete? Comment below!

The new extension looks like it will have the Knights Kingdom theme.

[Jew]

You don't build more hotel rooms unless you are expecting demand to increase...so I would guess that new attractions will be presented as part of the master plan the government wants to see.

[StealthFan]

^Yeah I'm sure an increase in attendance will happen and the hotel alone attracts people who wouldn't normally visit due to the fact they can stay on resort.

 

I vaguely remember having a discussion with Elissa about the park and her saying something along the lines of while its a nice park its in the worst place to grow and expand. I just imagine the traffic plan being a long winded pain in the arse process for Legoland just like it has been for Alton Towers.