Towerlands Park

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Rambo

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Have heard a rumour that....

Towerlands has been sold off (as we already know it is now being run as Towelands Park instead of Unex Towerlands) and that planning permission is being sought to demolish it and build houses on the site
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Apparently it is being leased to the current incumbents for two years after which it will cease to be an equestrian centre
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This is only a rumour I have heard...but does anyone else know anything more ?

Would be a terrible loss to the south east equestrian scene.
 
Hate to say it but if this is true it has been on the cards for a while - the general thought amongst most BSJA'ers in our area is that this was always going to happen, it was a matter of when not if.

I was always hoping it wouldn't so lets keep fingers crossed they struggle for permission. I wouldn't have thought a developers would have bought it without having already got permission though.
 
I would have thought there'd be uproar if they tried to build houses on the site. It's very close to Braintree, which has expanded hugely in the last few years, but it must be green belt. Then again, maybe it would be classified as a brownfield site. Oh dear
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Yes I have heard that too.
I doubt there would be any problem getting planning permission there... and I think its just a matter of time.
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Unfortunitally I have heard this too and it has good access points with the gates for acces that have been restored. I hear they are having difficulties getting dates from BD to hold competitions too (september 09 onwards was quoted) I would not be surprised if we loos it as a venue.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if it did happen.. I have heard the rumours too but thought/hoped it was just speculation.
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It would be a real tragedy though - it is such a great venue.

Maybe if it is true we should start a protest!
 
Well the "whisper-mill" is in full throttle but what I can say for certainty it has not been "sold" it is still run by Unex.

Yes, thay have changed the name (ideally for future "development")(Would you buy a house on Unex Towerlands or an area called Towerlands Park?)
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but for the next couple of years things are running as normal.

There will be slightly less shows but this is due the current state of the financial climate.

I will post more details after a meeting this week.
 
I am sure that it will be developed eventually (Unex Group is a development company is it not?) but had heard that it is the surrounding land that would be developed and the equestrian part would remain, there has been a massive investment in the arenas that would appear fruitless to then knock down or build on. It also made sense that the general manager wouldnt suddenly have the finances to purchase the whole thing lock stock and barrel!!!
 
So, reading between the lines it sounds like there is more than a little truth in the rumours
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Yes, Unex is a development company...but the owners as we all know are a rather horsey family...so would like to think that there is at least someone looking out for us
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To those who think the fact they've spent several million £££'s updating the arena's and other facilities will save it...think again ! A few million would pale into insignificance compared to the sort of profit they could make on a 1000 house development
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Let's hope the recession and subsequent housing downturn at least puts their plans back a few years if nothing else
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[ QUOTE ]
So, reading between the lines it sounds like there is more than a little truth in the rumours
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Yes, Unex is a development company...but the owners as we all know are a rather horsey family...so would like to think that there is at least someone looking out for us
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To those who think the fact they've spent several million £££'s updating the arena's and other facilities will save it...think again ! A few million would pale into insignificance compared to the sort of profit they could make on a 1000 house development
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Let's hope the recession and subsequent housing downturn at least puts their plans back a few years if nothing else
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I think i was dreaming but hey ho i can only hope !!!
 
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Yes, thay have changed the name (ideally for future "development")(Would you buy a house on Unex Towerlands or an area called Towerlands Park?)


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Would you buy a house in Braintree???
 
Re: Dev...

What meeting are you going to this week and can anyone go? It would be nice to find out more about the plans for such a great centre!
 
I was there all weekend for the Halloween Show and it was well known that the new owners were in place and they were being very tight with the lighting in the stables (putting only every other light on) and also they wouldnt put the heaters on over the spectator stands. It was freezing.

The last show finished extremely late on Sunday and my pal was mucking her stable out in the dark!
 
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I was there all weekend for the Halloween Show and it was well known that the new owners were in place and they were being very tight with the lighting in the stables (putting only every other light on) and also they wouldnt put the heaters on over the spectator stands. It was freezing.

The last show finished extremely late on Sunday and my pal was mucking her stable out in the dark!

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haha you noticed too!!! it was rather colld!!!
 
i have heard all these rumers as well but recently looked on Braintree DC website for planning applications and found all the ones that Towerlands have put in to the council for the past few years. They applied for a new golf club house in 2004 which was refused and a small hotel in 2007 which was also refused - reasons included that it is rural land and not allowed to be developed on and also that the access roads are very insufficient for extra traffic. With these refusals in mind i cant see how Braintree DC would allow an estate to be built. I think they would be very against it. Also much of the land on the estate was converted from agricultural to equestrian a few years back which still does not allow houses to be put on it. The road structure is so small around the place there is no way a load of houses could be built?? It would never be allowed to be an equestrian centre now due to poor access, we are just lucky that it was built before all the red tape!. Lets just hope that it never happens x
 
I understand that the centre has been leased to the previous manager Michelle Thornton for 3 years. Bill Gredley's accountants wanted him to close it as it was making no money but he didn't want that - this way it generates him cash without the risk. Plus removes the Unex business from its association.

I think the VERY long term plans will probably be development given that he has bought a lot of the surrounding land - that will be a long way off given the planning permisson laws as they stand!
 
I had it on good authority that the Gredleys had put it up for sale and that it was a management buy out and that it is Michelle thats running it. Apparently Unex had put in a number of planning applications, one for a hotel and Braintree DC turned most of them down. The rumours of building houses was apparently what Unex wanted to do with it after the 2012 Olympics if they were successful in being a location that was chosen to host one of the visiting nations.

I hope the rumours are true that it is a management buy out as Unex stopped all the Unaffiliated Dressage and Showjumping which was really handy for me, being only 10 minutes away to take youngsters too or too just give one of my horses a jump round on a Tuesday evening.
 
There is a big International Show on next week, with free entry to the public, so it may be a good time to go up and check out the rumours and also see some good jumping!! It was fantastic last year with Shetland racing, famous jockeys doing mounted games, a raffle and auction and all my friends went and really enjoyed it. We are all going back this year cos there are supposed to be loads of great trade stands and I want to do some shopping!!! Maybe I'll see some of you there?
 
Yes, we're going! We went last year and saw Ellen Whitaker she was really nice, but I really want to see the jockeys racing again it was soooooo funny! My dad is going too he wants to get drunk in the bar again, I am going 2 get all my xmas shopping this year as its cheaper than olympia!!!!!!!! You also get a chance to meet all the famous riders 2. cant wait see u there x
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its true
its been i the local paper that tis got planning permission for 4000 houses or something, everyone knew it from when they changed the name to towerlands park, gredly still owns most of it though.
 
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