Kings Mill Reservoir Leisure Development
Sutton in Ashfield
PROJECT STATUS: Under construction. Due to be completed by late 2024.
REGENERATION STRAND: More to Discover
ADDRESS: Kings Mill Reservoir, Sutton in Ashfield, NG17 4PA
The Kings Mill Reservoir flagship project for a new boathouse with meeting room and restaurant space will be an important catalyst to boost night time economy in the area. It will also bring opportunities for events and meeting space, as well as growth in water sports and recreational activities.
Work started on the project in June 2023 and forms part of Ashfield District Council’s £62.6million Towns Fund programme. The new facility will house modern, accessible changing facilities for water sports and a meeting/training room on the ground floor. A restaurant and function space will occupy the first floor, offering views across the water at the Sutton in Ashfield site.
A 136-space car park, built on former wasteland, at Kings Mill Reservoir opened in November 2023 to accommodate the future increase in visitors to the site. Native hedging and trees will be planted on the car park to increase the biodiversity on site, and a permeable surface has been used to mitigate flooding impacts. 
Ashfield District Council’s plans for Kings Mill Reservoir complement the expansion of the Mill Adventure Base, to offer a larger variety of activities for visitors across Nottinghamshire and beyond.
The reservoir site is a key gateway to Ashfield from Mansfield and improvements will help increase the area’s visitor economy. The site had significant investment in recent years through the £1.8m Heritage Lottery funded Mills Waters project, which has delivered essential de-silting work for water sports, habitat creation, a heritage centre, upgrade of the café, restoration of an historic viaduct, and additional car parking.
This project hopes to build on this by creating a greater choice of leisure facilities and establishing the site as a major visitor destination.
Email the council if you are an operator who wants to apply to run the restaurant and function space.
Learn more about the plans for Kings Mill Reservoir.
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