AMBITIOUS plans to turn an abandoned Rochester filling station into a holiday park and fishing lake have reappeared.

In December last year, plans to create a fishing lake, holiday lodges and observatory shop at the Border Park petrol station were shelved.

Developer Tri-Pyramid withdrew the planning application following objections from the Environment Agency and Northumberland National Park Authority.

But now the developer has returned, with new proposals for the site, which sits on the A68 road near Byrness.

Tri-Pyramid has submitted a planning application for Lake Biminy Lodge, which is described as a fishing village-style development.

If approved, the plans would see a new fishing lake created, with seven log-cabin holiday lodges around the edge.

There would also be six craft workshops and an observatory and the existing cafe would be extended and refurbished.

Estimating that 5,000 tourists pass the site every week, the applicant suggests the application is an opportunity to: “introduce such tourists to the history and culture of Northumberland, while at the same time bringing a much-needed influx back into the local economy through direct and indirect employment, investment and increase in tourism.”

The size of each holiday lodges would be 210 square metres, designed to become carbon neutral and built of materials which complement and minimise impact on the environment.

Each lodge would have three bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms, sauna and jacuzzi.

Underfloor heating, powered by ground and lake source pumps, high-speed internet, and full house audio/video control are also incorporated in the plans.

The lake would be a one-and-a-half acre body of water, with the shoreline varying from rocky to grassy to tree-lined.

The six craft workshops and shops would be based over two floors, with one floor visible from the forecourt area and the second below ground level.

Tri-Pyramid says it is keen to promote the local cultural heritage of Northumberland through the retail offering, and has already identified providers for a farm shop and antiques and art shops.

It also says it would fund the establishment of a tourist information point.

The application claims that the observatory would be fitted with ‘one of the most powerful telescopes, pointed at the clearest skies in all of Europe.’

The telescope would be housed in an observatory, connected to a projecting room for larger parties, and will be available to local academic groups.

Plans for the Lake Biminy Lodge cafe will see the existing cafe transformed into a full-service cafe with a menu of food influenced by Asian and French food.