Some frequently asked questions
“When will we hear the results of the planning application?”
We have now received consent for the outline planning application for the Propagation Unit and the full application for the Education and Learning Building.
The current date we have been given for hearing the results of the main full application, which includes the new Welcome Building, car park, Downs restoration and Tree Walkway & Heritage Tower, is early September. This could be subject to change as queries arise during the approval process.
"What is the difference between full and outline planning permission?"
If outline planning consent is granted, it means that the plans are approved in principle in terms of the use of the building’s use and its location.
Details such as materials, construction methods, size, type and details such as windows are not provided in an outline permission. For these to be approved, a full planning application is required. Therefore, construction cannot start on a building unless it has full planning permission approval, which can be obtained at a later date to coincide with the Westonbirt Project's plans and schedules.
“How will disabled access into the arboretum be affected?”
We have been working with the Cirencester Access Group who are a group of volunteers who assist on a variety of projects, including work for local councils. As a user-led group they have provided insightful guidance and advice for the project.
The new car park location will allow all visitors a shorter to walk to the Old Arboretum via Down Gate and Silk Wood. It will also provide more than double the existing number of disabled car parking spaces, with easy access to the Welcome Building.
Visitors who use mobility scooters will be able to collect them from the new building, with a side path linking back to the car park for visitors’ convenience. More space has been allocated for mobility scooters to enable more visitors improved access to the arboretum.
The Tree Walkway will provide disabled access to Silk Wood, which is currently challenging for many of our visitors. All visitors will be able to enjoy the walkway and the experience of being high up in the tree canopy. The Cirencester Access Group are happy with the proposed walkway and the opportunity for much needed improved disabled access to Silk Wood.
"Will the cost of admission to the arboretum rise with the Westonbirt Project?"
The Westonbirt Project will help us to provide a really high quality and interesting experience to our visitors, whatever time of the year they choose to come. Since the improvements will be funded through grants and donations, they will not be paid for by price increases to visitors
“Won’t Westonbirt become too commercial?”
Westonbirt has to be commercial to some extent in order to survive, but we’ll always strike a balance and remain true to what makes Westonbirt such a unique and special place.
To preserve the national tree collection and historic landscape we rely on visitor income. As visitor expectations grow we must enhance our facilities to keep pace with their demands, whilst still maintaining the very special atmosphere we have now.
“Will these developments affect the peace and quiet of the arboretum?”
The new facilities will impact on less than one acre of the 600-acre site, so there will always be quiet and remote areas to escape to and explore.
By moving the current car park off the Grade 1 listed Downs landscape, we’ll be giving more of this historic landscape back to visitors to enjoy. This will also create more peace and quiet at the centre of the site.
“Will there be an increase in traffic and queuing to enter the arboretum?”
The new car park and welcome building will ease the flow of traffic into the arboretum and reduce queuing.
Admissions will be through a pay-on-foot system, removing the current pay-from car-system. This will lead to less congestion on the main road at busy times of the year.
“How will these new developments affect the local area?”
Westonbirt Arboretum is already the number one paid-for visitor attraction in Gloucestershire and a key contributor to the local economy; contributing over £23 million each year (ref: UWE socio-economic impact survey 2006).
The developments will:
- Increase secondary spend – bringing more tourism and new people to the area
- Increase supplier opportunities
- Encourage the better provision of public transport and green travel opportunities
- Increase community involvement and volunteering opportunities. We can’t currently accept all the volunteering offers we receive but the Westonbirt Project will enable us to accommodate many more.
“Where will the money come from?”
In order to realise the broad scope of the Westonbirt Project we will be fundraising from a variety of sources.
Having passed the first round of the Heritage Lottery Fund development process, we are now preparing to submit a proposal to meet the next stage.
However HLF funding is not the only way will be raising the money we need to realise our ambitions. Along with the integral support of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, funding can also be raised through major donors, trusts and foundations, statutory sources & grassroots sources and public fundraising in order to meet our goals.
“What happens to any money raised if Westonbirt doesn’t get the HLF funding?”
The project is made up of many different elements. This allows us to proceed with some of the elements that require less financial input (such as moving the car park out of the middle of our beautiful landscape), as the funding develops.
We’ll continue to fundraise from other sources. It may take longer to achieve, but we will still deliver the project.
