The Investment in Hinchingbrooke Country Park is an ambitious plan to redevelop and improve this much-loved park. Bringing mutual benefits to the park’s natural environment, the wildlife that call it home, as well as our visitors who love spending time here, we want to ensure that it remains an asset for nature and our communities for future generations.
The scheme costs approximately £2.9 million and is funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and capital funding.
Projects Aims
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Enhancing 150 acres of habitat – Enriching, protecting and managing the park’s open grasslands, mature woodlands, and lakes, led by what’s best for the wildlife that calls it home
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A larger capacity car park – Able to accommodate more visitors on busier days
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Resurfacing of existing pathways to allow increased accessibility for a greater portion of the year
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New and improved cafe – Relocated to inside the countryside centre and offering more food and drink choices for park users, with increased indoor and outdoor seating areas
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Extended and modernised Countryside Centre – offering a versatile venue for functions and celebrations within a natural setting in the heart of Huntingdon
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New toilet facilities – Prioritising comfort, dignity and hygiene for all, including a Changing Places toilet and dedicated baby changing and disabled loos
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Destination play - Encouraging new and returning visitors with better play provision, including more accessible play options, completed in 2022.
New Timeframe
As a result of complexities within the project, the updated schedule for completion has been extended from spring 2025 to spring 2026.
The decision to withdraw the planning application was made based on feedback from the planning team and objections from consultees. Biodiversity Net Gain requirements became mandatory in February 2024 and as some surveys can only be done in spring and summer, the project's completion date has been extended. This will allow Hinchingbrooke to be at the forefront of the new ecological planning changes instituted in the UK.