Lakes provide unusual development opportunity

A group of eight lakes in a picturesque Warwickshire setting are being offered for sale with various permissions for recreational facilities and fisherman’s lodges.

Bishops Bowl Lakes, near Bishops Itchington, seven miles south of Royal Leamington Spa, occupy about a third of the 36 hectare site, which was worked as a limestone quarry until the 1970s.

Left to flood naturally, the landscape within the stone-faced bowl has matured into an attractive and peaceful location. Existing buildings on the site include a former café, office/machinery store and a two-bedroom timber clad lodge.

Predominantly used for fishing but with consent for water sports such as diving, water skiing and jet skiing, Bishops Bowl Lakes lie within a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation and part of the cliff face around Greenhill Lake are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Over the last 30 years, planning consents have been obtained and renewed to allow development opportunities including 21 fishermen’s lodges, a clubhouse with bar and lounge and a water sports centre. There is also consent for a substantial 6 bedroom owner’s / manager’s house.

Emma Lawrence of Savills, joint agents with HLL Humberts Leisure, says: “The banks around the lakes are wide enough to allow development at varying levels overlooking the water, giving plenty of scope for an entrepreneur with vision to create something quite special. There may also be potential for the new owner to obtain further planning consents for additional holiday units or other uses on the site.”

Bishops Bowl Lakes is on the market for offers in excess of £750,000. For further details contact Emma Lawrence at Savills Oxford (savills.com) or John Mitchell at HLL Humberts Leisure in London.