PLANS to turn an abandoned Rochester filling station into a holiday park and fishing lake have been approved.

Developer Tri-Pyramid received approval for its Lake Biminy development on the Border Park petrol station site on Friday, September 22.

The development, which will sit on the A68 near Byrness, will consist of a new fishing lake, seven holiday home log cabins and a boathouse, with new vehicular access and sewage treatment plant.

Also proposed is a two storey building to house craft workshops on the ground floor and an observatory on the first floor with an external viewing platform.

The holiday lodges will each have three bedrooms and be 210 square metres. They will be constructed of timber, natural stone and cedar shingles to the roof.

The lake will be a one-and-a-half acre body of water, which will be a “fully stocked lake that avid fishermen can use”.

The proposed workshops, and a refurbishment and extension to the existing shop and café, will be located off the A68, with designated car parking bays proposed at the front of the new workshop.

Meanwhile, the fuel station will be retained to allow it to be reinstated in the future.

A similar planning application by the developer was withdrawn in December 2015 after objections from the Environment Agency and Northumberland National Park Authority, but the re-submitted application drew no objections.

Eric Balki, CEO of TriPyramid Ventures, said: “We and the community strongly feel that we have a project that will enhance the local region and bring important investment back in the area.

“For years we have seen declining population, especially a demographic shift with younger population moving to cities.

“Projects like this will help us retain and build upon rural micro economies and invest for the future, retaining young talent in the areas and providing them with jobs and opportunities.”

The developers said the next step is to start looking for partners to take the project forward.

“I genuinely feel that this is the most exciting time for Northumberland, and our local villages like Otterburn and Byrness, in a very long time,” added Mr Balki.