There are plans to create a new £1 million play area at the Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre in Spalding.
As well as the centre’s various stores and designer gardens SLR Outlets, who operate the Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre are looking to add a major new leisure offering at the site.
The improvements would see a £1 million investment into an imaginative new entertainment centre for all ages, incorporating a range of new and exciting play activities.
At its heart, the new development would host the biggest ever JCB Young Driver Zone, an attraction which includes a large track for pedal diggers, huge JCB slide, scaffold themed climbing frame and other unique interactive play equipment. The JCB zone recreates a miniature village and construction site and will contain everything from the health and safety briefing classroom for budding operators through to a large track and building site where children can experience both fun and educational play.
A JCB spokesperson said: “We are hugely excited by the plans for our biggest ever JCB Young Drivers Zone at Springfields. A great deal of thought and time has gone into the design of the Zone which will give young JCB fans a fantastic outdoor space to explore whether driving, building, climbing or sliding. We know the site and location well and we’re confident it will be a real hit with young families from all around the region.”
Other exciting improvements as part of the plans include a new High Top Hobbit Village wooden climbing and play facility and a new sheltered infant sand play and seating area. Springfields would also be host to what is believed to be Lincolnshire’s only gold panning activity area.
Plans have been submitted and if approved the new leisure area will be situated within the Festival Gardens at Springfields and will be accessed via the existing Craft Cafe. The Craft Cafe building itself will be refurbished to house a new American-themed diner. The popular Jurassic themed Dinosaur miniature golf course will also be fully refurbished.
Ian Sanderson of SLR Outlets said: “We are proposing really exciting changes to the leisure offer at Springfields which will help us to strengthen our position as Lincolnshire’s leading outlet centre. Getting JCB on board is a major coup for the area, in the face of increasing competition elsewhere.
“Springfields is constantly seeking to improve our overall offer for people of all ages. Over the last two years, we have attracted some excellent new retailers to Spalding, alongside a major refurbishment of the garden centre. Now we wish to invest to modernise the leisure offer.”
The planning application will be determined by South Holland District Council so we’ll keep you posted if it all gets the go ahead.