Locals prefer living next to once-popular abandoned amusement park than £80million council plan

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP calls plans for a new theme park by Universal Studios in Bedford ‘a huge vote of confidence in the UK’.
GB NEWS
Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 13/07/2025

- 09:13

Updated: 13/07/2025

- 10:01

The medieval-themed amusement park shut down in 2012 after welcoming visitors for 29 years

Locals in Lancashire have said that they prefer living near a now-derelict theme park than proposed £80million plans put forward by the council to transform the site.

The abandoned amusement park is set to be transformed into hundreds of homes, 15 years after the site was closed and left to rot.


Camelot Theme Park in Charnock Richard has remained closed since 2012, after shutting its doors after nearly three decades.

The site, which has since been used for immersive Halloween events and laser tag, will be converted into 350 homes under the council's new proposals for the site.

The new £80million plans have sparked outrage among the local community, with many residents concerned about the effect on wildlife.

The housing project, which has had 25 objections and just one supporting, was submitted by Story Homes, and will accommodate 50 per cent of its builds to affordable housing for local people, according to claims.

Noise and traffic concerns have also been raised, with fears that the village is too small to support new residents.

The homes would include a range of sizes for first-time buyers, families and older couples looking to downsize as well as a community hub office and meeting spaces for groups, which are also in the proposals.

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Camelot Theme Park

The derelict amusement park is set to be transformed into hundreds of homes

GETTY

One resident commenting on the proposals said: "There are not enough amenities to cope. How will the schools, GPs, roads cope?

They added: "Please leave our greenery and woodland and nature alone."

The residents raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure in the local area.

One wrote: "The development lacks clear provision for new schools, healthcare or transport links - failing to meet the needs of the existing population, let alone new residents."

Camelot Theme ParkThe site has since been used for immersive Halloween events and laser tagGETTY

Another said: "We have issues with drainage already and with the aforementioned sites we have no idea how this is going to impact the communities with flooding and future issues."

One resident, who was the only supporter of the plans, argued that the brownfield site would be a suitable location for the development.

They wrote: "There are some who say there isn't the infrastructure to make this development viable. I would say, there are numerous engineers whose job it is to ensure that there will be enough electricity/drainage etc to ensure the development will be ok.

"As long as the development is sympathetic to the local nature, I think it is an ideal use of a brownfield site."

Housing development

The plans claim the development would be a boost for local wildlife

GETTY

The plans claim the development would be a boost for local wildlife, achieving a ten per cent biodiversity net gain by restoring the natural water flow of the nearby Syd Brook.

Camelot Theme Park had been a once-popular medieval-themed amusement park, drawing inspiration from the legend of King Arthur.

However, the proposals to build large housing developments have led to strong local community opposition across the UK.

In a separate dispute, residents in Sheffield took to the streets in a heartbreaking final plea to protest similar plans to concrete over 809 acres of green belt land for housing.