West Midland Safari Park plan is handed to bosses

The expansion of West Midland Safari Park was today moving closer to reality after draft plans for the development were submitted to council bosses.

A number of major developments are in the pipeline for the Bewdley attraction including the creation of a hotel, indoor water park and a link to the Severn Valley Railway. Wyre Forest District Council has been sent draft plans.

The document has been submitted so further talks can take place with the authority and changes made to the scheme before a final version of the brief is formally submitted.

Spokesman Richard Boother, of RPS Planning, said sending the draft brief was an important and necessary step in the planning process.

"Essentially we have included details of all the proposals we are putting forward for the park in this draft plan and have sent it on a more informal basis to the council," he said.

"This will allow talks to take place with officials from the authority on what we want to do. They will then be able to give us their views on the proposals.

"It will allow any alterations to be made to the brief before the final version of the document is submitted to the council for consideration.

"The scheme is moving in the right direction and work is ongoing."

Once the final development brief is submitted, a final decision on its contents is not expected until the end of the year due to the scale of the plans.

If it is approved the first formal planning applications for developments at the site would be submitted in early 2013. The proposed 250-bedroom hotel would be built in a safari style and offer visitors views over the attraction.