Calling for Expressions of Interest
Cwmcarn Forest Drive, Cwmcarn, Casnewydd
607 sq m
Description
Your Expression of Interest on the future development of Cwmcarn Forest and the opportunity to establish it as a prime destination for recreational activities within Wales and Nationally is sought by the Partnership of NRW and CCBC.
The aim with this process is to ensure that when an Invitation to Tender is put to the market in early 2025, the Landowners and stakeholders are committed to the outcome of the process, working together to secure the best future for this site.
The aim with this process is to ensure that when an Invitation to Tender is put to the market in early 2025, the Landowners and stakeholders are committed to the outcome of the process, working together to secure the best future for this site.
BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS
Three main car parks hold 180 cars, generating £75k annually.
226,000 visitors stayed an average of 3 hours.
A new visitor centre opened in 2006, boasting a modern cafe, retail area, offices, and more, thanks to over £1m of Objective 1 funding.
A further investment of £2m from WG and Objective 1 Funding enabled developments which included three luxury lodges, the redevelopment and landscaping of the lakeside facilities, new footpath links around the site, a blue grade family cycling trail and 35 additional parking spaces on site.
Additional funding was secured for the addition of the remaining 6 luxury lodges (9 in total) which added to the existing glamping pods and expanded camping facilities, boosting annual income to circa £130,000 per annum.
Tourism in the county is thriving, with latest estimates of over 870k day & night visits per annum, generating over £134m of GVA.
The location offers downhill exhilarating mountain biking, epic views and convenient, inclusive access to nature.
Specification
Once a coal colliery linked to Abercarn and Newbridge, Cwmcarn Forest was reclaimed for leisure in 1972. Since then, it has become a popular location for tourism and recreation, featuring a unique seven-mile-long Forest Drive, which immerses visitors in an outstanding natural upland environment.
In 2023, approximately 226,000 visitors stayed an average of 3 hours. Weekends and school holidays are bustling, with a steady weekday footfall too.
The site is a magnet for mountain bikers, families, and dog walkers who are drawn to its extensive, well maintained network of ‘walking trails, cycle paths, play areas, and picnic spots—all within easy reach from multiple car parks.
In 2023, approximately 226,000 visitors stayed an average of 3 hours. Weekends and school holidays are bustling, with a steady weekday footfall too.
The site is a magnet for mountain bikers, families, and dog walkers who are drawn to its extensive, well maintained network of ‘walking trails, cycle paths, play areas, and picnic spots—all within easy reach from multiple car parks.