Eco-friendly facilities set to boost camping site visitors

February 2010

Construction work is under way on an eco-friendly toilet and shower block that will deliver a major improvement to facilities at a camping site high in the Staffordshire Moorlands – and at the same time help boost the local economy.

Amos Developments won the contract to construct the new facilities at the 48-acre Gradbach Scout Camp for High Peak District Scouts following a competitive tender process.

The single-storey building – constructed of gritstone with a Staffordshire blue tile roof – is of radical design, being partially hidden in its hillside site reducing visual impact and making it more environment-friendly.
Other ‘green’ features include an air source heat pump to provide constant heating at little cost the environment, and water-saving fittings are being installed throughout.

Providing male and female toilet and shower facilities and a communal dishwashing area, the new block will be a big improvement from the existing showers and toilets housed in a former Portacabins.

Camp Warden Mark Rushworth explained that the camp, which caters for scouts, Duke of Edinburgh award groups and other organised groups from all over the country, was expecting a major increase in visitor numbers when the new block was complete.

“Installing the fairly basic facilities in the Portacabins saw an increase in numbers over the last three years and enabled us to generate income towards this building project. When the new block is open, we forecast visitor stays to climb to 10,000 camper nights by 2013 which will in turn have a positive effect on the local economy,” said Mark.

“Gradbach camp has been in use since 1953 and local scouts are very proud of it. They are very much looking forward to the new toilet and shower block.”

The £160,000 project has attracted strong financial backing, with £60,000 support through LEADER in the Peak District Rural Action Zone. (The project is part of the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is delivered by Derbyshire Economic Partnership.)  A further £25,000 has been donated by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Mark added that High Peak Scouts had selected Amos Developments for a combination of factors, including a very competitive tender price and its reputation for high quality work.

The new building is planned to be in use by mid summer.