Eco-building arrives at adventure centre

Hotel, Sport & Leisure Tue, Nov 8, 2016 10:15 AM

Novus Property Solutions has helped to give young people and adults access to the outdoors by creating a new eco-building at the Mount Cook Adventure Centre based in Derbyshire.

After 10 months of building works, the new building on Porter Lane in Middleton-by-Wirksworth is complete, and can accommodate 130 guests.

It also has wheel-chair access, an indoor climbing wall, indoor and outdoor workshop spaces, conference rooms, full catering facilities, an onsite high-ropes course, and a 10-metre-high rooftop terrace.

A team from Novus braved high winds and snow to complete the new building, which sits in an exposed area on the outskirts of the Peak District, and has been constructed using locally sourced Derbyshire stone to ensure it blends into its surroundings.

Renewable energy sources have been integrated into the plans for the £2.5 million building, and photovoltaic panels are in place to heat water, while greywater recycling and wind-generated power are to be added at a later date.

Set in five acres of ground, the centre is a short distance from Black Rocks climbing area, the High Peak Trail, Carsington Reservoir and UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cromford Mill and Derwent Valley Mills. The centre seeks to make use of local facilities to offer guests a range of adventurous activities and educational workshops based on the rich mining history and geology located in the area.

Adam Williams, construction manager at Novus Property Solutions, said: "We are extremely proud to have created a building that will be so important to young people and adults in helping them access the beautiful Peak District countryside.

"The new building exemplifies our commitment to creating environmentally friendly structures that are in keeping with their surroundings, and the building also offers wheelchair accessible rooms."

Colin Adams, joint founder and director of Mount Cook Adventure Centre, said: “We are committed to providing access to the outdoors to as many groups as possible, and we welcome people of all ages and abilities to our centre.

"We hosted a birthday party this summer and more recently a wedding, and we can’t wait to cater for more events in the future. The centre itself has made great progress in such a short space of time, and we look forward to more guests arriving over the Christmas season.”