'Lake District in Wales' set for £21m tourism boost with new water sports hub

A £21m initiative to attract increased tourism to Wales' own 'Lake District' is nearing the attainment of substantial funding from both the Welsh and UK Governments. The Elan Valleys Lake project, spearheaded by Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water, aims to draw more visitors to mid Wales' picturesque counterpart to the English Lake District.

The plan involves renovation and extension of the Elan Valley visitor centre that affords views over the Caban Coch Dam as well as construction of a water sports and events hub, addition of new tourist accommodation including trendy glamping pods, and enhancement of walking paths and cycling trails. Alongside these developments the plan demonstrates commitment to woodland conservation and promotion of green energy via hydro mains ring connections, reports NorthWalesLive.

Boosted by approval of its preliminary business plan for funding by the £100m Mid Wales Growth Deal – a fund supported by cash injections from both the Welsh and UK Governments – the projected £21.7m scheme promises to amplify the tourist appeal of the Elan Valley. Welsh Water has also pledged to make a "significant" monetary contribution in addition to seeking further private sector investment. With pre-emptive planning consent already secured the project can now move forward to the final business case evaluation stage.

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Martin Driscoll, Welsh Water's director of business services and people who is at the helm of the Elan Valley Lakes project, expressed his satisfaction with the progress. "We are pleased that the project has reached such an important stage as we aspire to deliver a flagship destination in mid Wales. We believe it will be key to achieving the growth deal's 'strengthened tourism offer' priority area. This project aims to enhance visitor experience, increase revenue and sustain the natural beauty and environment of the Elan Valley. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mid Wales Growth Deal team to make this happen."

Welsh Water has highlighted that the initiative is in line with the growth deal's strategic priorities for sustainable tourism. The company emphasised its commitment to environmental stewardship by focusing on low-carbon development and utilising renewable energy sources, which supports Welsh Water's journey towards net zero emissions. Additionally the project includes plans for the restoration and expansion of the Celtic Rainforest in the Elan Valley aiming to connect and rejuvenate fragmented areas to boost biodiversity.

Welsh Water is collaborating with an architect to produce designs for a broader visitor centre too. Elan Valley's visitor attraction manager, Mike Booth, said the newly-envisioned visitor centre would offer panoramic views of Caban Coch Dam from the café and include additional amenities such as a new reception and retail space, a planetarium, and an exhibition. "It will also incorporate a training kitchen to support apprenticeships along with upgrades to wastewater management facilities. This is a very exciting time for Elan Valley," he added.

A spokesman for the Growing Mid Wales Board said: "We were pleased to approve the outline business case for this project. It's an exciting milestone to be the first project to reach this step with the Mid Wales Growth Deal so far. There is a lot of work to do with Welsh Water on the project but we will do what we can to see the growth deal investment leveraged to its full potential and attract investment into the region to enhance and improve our tourism offer. Mid Wales is already on the map in terms of outdoor adventure. However this investment could drive further improvements to the sector while keeping conservation and sustainability as key priorities. The creation of new facilities and assets will help draw in more varied visitors to mid Wales, creating jobs directly. In the wider visitor economy it will give people more reasons to visit and stay in mid Wales, supporting a greater variety of jobs in the region's leisure, retail, and hospitality industry."