Lakeland Leisure Estates, a Cumbria-based leisure operator, has announced plans to expand and upgrade a holiday village.

Improvements will be made to the Roydon Marina Village in Essex, made possible through a £4 million funding package from HSBC UK.

The development project will focus on improving facilities and amenities, with plans to host more than 168 wide beam canal and river boats.

Phase one, due for completion by March 2024, will introduce new wide beam and narrowboat moorings, state-of-the-art composite anti-slip walkways, a new facility building with bathrooms, laundry, and Elsan services for boaters, and on-site electric vehicle chargers.

The plan also includes the installation of new recycling bins and an improved, resurfaced access road to the marina.

Mark Morgan, Managing Director of Lakeland Leisure Estates, said: “I’m very excited for the expansion at Roydon Village Marina. The location has excellent transport links, based just 30 minutes from Liverpool Street station and Stanstead airport, helping the site continue growing as a popular leisure destination.

"The re-development and new state-of-the-art facilities will provide an attractive base for boaters and further improve the experience for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.”

The second phase will involve the construction of a slipway and boat yard for maintenance and repairs access.

The family-owned business is currently running several holiday parks, hotels, and marinas across the UK.

This expansion, the newest addition to the Lakeland Leisure Estates portfolio, is expected to increase the company's turnover by £1 million.

David Edwards, Global Relationship Director at HSBC UK, said: “Lakeland Leisure is a robust UK business and we’re excited to help with its latest expansion. We’re looking forward to the business continuing to improve facilities for UK holidaymakers and thrive as a leading company in the growing UK leisure industry.”