Rank to set up UKwoodland resorts
FOLLOWING its exit from the hotel business, the Rank Organisation is preparing to develop a small group of "close to nature" woodland holiday resorts in the UK.
While Shepway District Council in East Kent peruses a detailed planning application for the first Oasis Village, Rank is considering building one or two more of the village resorts.
"These resorts take four to five years to plan and build," said Angus Crichton-Miller, managing director of Rank's holidays division. "We may well have to commit to a second before we have seen how the first one works."
Market research by the English Tourist Board (ETB) and Rank suggests there is room in Britain for eight or more large-scale holiday resorts. Scottish & Newcastle has three Center Parcs resorts in the UK, the third of which opened only last week at Longleat, Wiltshire.
Rank's application in Kent is supported by the ETB which recognises the large role holiday villages could play in domestic tourism.
However, the very nature of the resorts means it is not all plain sailing for Rank. An action group of residents has formed in Kent, determined to fight Rank's plans for the woodland site.
However, Rank said 100 acres of the wood would remain open for public access and the company has arranged to acquire another large block of land to create a 400-acre woodland with new walks and rides for the public.
Mr Crichton-Miller said the new area would more than compensate local residents. An exhibition on the scheme has also toured parish halls.
The Oasis Village will cost around £100m to build. The 300-acre site will have clusters of forest lodges and villas, a country club and a variety of restaurants. Average occupancy is expected to settle at around 3,500 people per night.
lThe Rank Organisation reported an interim pre-tax profit of £127.9m, an increase of 41% on the same period last year. However, restructuring charges at Rank Xerox and other items sliced £111.6m off the bottom line for the six months to 14 May.
Operating profit at the holiday division rose from £5.6m to £7m. However, profits in the leisure division, which includes Hard Rock Café, fell from £22.3m to £20.4m.
