LaplandUK's second site approved in Cheshire

A Christmas event run by LaplandUK will be held in the grounds of a historical country house for the next ten years after the plan was approved by councillors.

Cheshire East Council has approved the proposal for Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield, which it said could create about 1,200 temporary jobs each year.

LaplandUK already runs a "fully immersive theatrical experience" at Swinley Forest, Ascot, and the event at the Cheshire hall, which it is calling Lapland Manchester, will be the firm's second site.

Marketing Cheshire said the economic impact for the area would be "enormous" and it was a "fantastic opportunity to put Cheshire in the shop window".

Concerns were raised by one councillor about the impact on the green belt, but members voted to approve the scheme as they felt the financial benefits would outweigh the harm.

At the meeting, Conservative councillor Stewart Gardiner said he was "not the Grinch" but that he "was not convinced the proposal was acceptable".

He said he was "not convinced that the [benefits] outweigh potential harm to the green belt and the setting" of the Grade II-listed property.

But his Conservative colleague Lesley Smetham, who proposed approval of the application, said she felt it sounded "very positive".

"The parish council are not objecting at all, and that's always a benefit to know the local people have confidence in what's proposed," she said.

Meanwhile Labour's Heather Seddon said it would benefit the local economy, adding: "There's lots of opportunities for part-time working.

"We do have a slight concern about the traffic, but I'm sure it can be overcome."

Independent Hannah Moss, who seconded the proposal, said she had visited the company's current site in Ascot as a visitor.

"I think it'll be a huge asset to Cheshire East and bring footfall from far and wide, which I think will benefit shops, hotels and hospitality venues, and that people will make a short break of the experience if you're not local," she said.

The planning application was passed by eight votes to two.

Cristian Marcucci, managing director of Marketing Cheshire, said the attraction choosing to open its second site in Cheshire was "a real coup" for the area.

"It feels like Christmas has come early for us in many senses," he said.

"I think local businesses and the local economy are really going to benefit from it.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to put Cheshire in the shop window and more of our towns and attractions in front of people to come and enjoy."

He said the visitor economy was worth about £3.9bn a year to the economy of Cheshire and Warrington and supported about 38,000 jobs.

The site is set to open later this year.

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