New £10m water park plans unveil outdoor pool and lazy river

Tourists could soon be plunging into fresh pools and a lazy river at a popular holiday destination. Bosses at a coastal holiday park have revealed ambitious plans for a £10.2 million transformation that includes an extra outdoor pool and a lazy river.

Unity Holidays, who operate the Unity Beach holiday park in Somerset, have unveiled their grand vision for Brean Splash. The proposals feature a lido-style section and revamped changing facilities. Planners suggest the expansion would not only elevate the experience for holidaying guests but also improve accessibility for residents throughout the county.

It means visitors and locals alike could have a "greatly enhanced facility", according to resort director Jonny Green. He said: "Since Unity Holidays bought the business, we have always looked to improve and increase what we have to offer, which we hope attracts more people to the west coast of Somerset, thus bringing greater footfall not just in Brean but to towns like Weston-super-Mare and Burnham. It also allows us to offer jobs to local people and support local businesses.

"We recognise that this closure will cause inconvenience, particularly for those who rely on our facilities for swimming lessons and regular activities. Naturally, we apologise for this disruption, but these works are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Brean Splash and to provide a greatly enhanced facility for the local community and visitors alike."

The redevelopment introduces a festival-style promenade, linking key attractions and pedestrian entrances, reports Somerset Live.

Key features of the revamp:

• Activity Pavilions and Spaces
• Archery areas within the Festival Gardens
• Children's play area
• Ice cream parlour
• Gourmet burger outlet
• Dog agility course
• Dancing water features and additional activity pavilions
• Lido Area featuring a premium outdoor pool facility with a tots' area, sunbed and cabana areas, integrated with existing wet play elements and water slides
• New Lazy River: An extension of the existing Brean Splash Waterpark, enhancing the water-based attractions
• Revamped Retail and Food and Beverage Spaces: Offering high-quality retail and dining options
• Reconfigured Parking and Theme Park Entrance: Improved layout for efficiency and accessibility
• New entrance from the east car park to improve connectivity

Should the green light be given, Brean Splash will shut from Monday, December 1, 2025 until Sunday, March 1, 2026, with construction planned during the quieter winter period when visitor numbers drop.

A statement accompanying the planning application states: "The proposed development will mean that the scale of ancillary facilities better aligns with the scale of accommodation on site, with existing facilities being too small and tired in their appearance. The development is considered to result in a sustainable form of development, that is consistent with the already established leisure use and is ancillary to the main caravan park.

"It will provide significant landscape planting, onsite biodiversity enhancements and the creation of positive economic impacts and benefits through additional jobs and economic investment, thereby supporting the retention of an existing leisure use used by visitors at the Holiday Park, securing the long-term economic viability of an existing local business and creating indirect knock on spend and benefits to the wider local economy and community.

"The masterplan arranges new and existing elements to optimize visitor movement and connectivity: The new promenade unifies the space, linking the south and north entrances, as well as providing a new pedestrian entrance from the new and existing car parking to the east. Key attractions are strategically placed to enhance guest experience and ease of access.

"This redevelopment will significantly enhance the visitor experience at Unity Beach Holiday Park, attracting new guests while improving facilities for returning visitors. The project will provide a vibrant, family-friendly environment that blends modern amenities with the natural beauty of the Somerset coast, ensuring the park remains a top destination for years to come."

The scheme comes after a £15 million investment earlier this year, which witnessed the launch of the Wonky Donkey pub and restaurant, featuring an expanded pavilion, sports bar and arcade. It was officially opened in May by BBC star Alex Jones, who hosts the One Show.