New pictures show what a new animal sanctuary complete with a restaurant and spa could look like if planning permission is approved in a Nottinghamshire village. The Broxtowe Retreat would be situated on land near Station House in Trowell and would comprise 27 guest lodges, as well as a themed spa and restaurant.
It's expected the development would create more than 60 jobs and ahead of it being discussed by Broxtowe Borough Council, new artist impressions have been released showing what the site could look like. Tim Hallam, the engineer on the Broxtowe retreat, who is also a Broxtowe councillor, stressed the images were slightly rudimentary at this stage but that they gave an insight into the "amazing" facility that could be brought to Trowell.
Mr Hallam said one of the big features of the retreat would be its environmentalism. This will include a rainwater capture and filtration system which Mr Hallam says should be able to feed all 27 cabins and the restaurant, though a mains water connection will be in place as a "back up."
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He said: "I'm fed up of lip-service environmentalism where a standard-issue, concrete monstrosity is built and a couple of solar panels are slapped on the roof so it's called environmentally positive. If we don't take this opportunity to make this the best testament to sustainability and carbon sustainability, then we've missed the point.
"Every single square inch of roof space is going to be a solar panel. Everything that isn't a skylight is going to be a solar panel, so much so that I said to the architect that I don't want roof tiles on the bill of materials.
"I want the mantra of this whole project to be 'do no harm'. This is miles above what there currently is on this land. It's weed-ridden, dilapidated land with a few cows on it. That's entirely it's purpose at the moment.
"All of this planting along with the shrubbery and water is going to increase biodiversity. It can't not."
Among the other planned environmental features of the retreat are ground source heat pumps and green walls. The main focus of the retreat is going to be around animal rehabilitation, with CEO Reece Oliver being known for his previous work in this area in Strelley.
Mr Oliver said: "It's going to make the village thrive and people are going to be able to talk about Trowell from all over the country. It's going to bring a lot of benefit.
Every lodge is going to have bicycles and a map of the Erewash Valley Trial so we can direct them around the local area and they will hopefully spend money in local businesses. We really would like to employ local people because we want to enhance the local community. We're ready to roll this out straight away if we get planning permission."
Mr Oliver also said he wanted to work with local schools to use the retreat to educate pupils on sustainability and conservation. He also pledged to "look after" people living locally to the planned retreat by discussing a possible membership deal.
The planning application is pending consideration by Broxtowe Borough Council, with a local consultation on it ending next month.
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