Award-winning tourist attraction, Lappa Valley Steam Railway, has invested over £1m into a brand-new café and indoor soft play area, which will be situated at the side of one of the oldest railway tracks in Cornwall.

We have been appointed as the Approved Inspector for the 7,000 sq. ft. construction of The Engine Shed, which is overlooking the canoeing lake. The foundations have been piled with a series of ground beams – to accommodate the proximity of the lake – whilst the building is formed of a steel frame structure with a mezzanine first floor. The building will house a café and soft play children’s area, with outdoor decking providing fantastic views across the lake and park.

The railway track dates to 1843, when Cornish railways pioneer J. T. Treffry suggested building a tramway between Par and Newquay, with a branch to East Wheal Rose mine which was entering its most prosperous period. Treffry spent 6 years trying to overcome public opposition and eventually rerouted the track from Newquay to St. Dennis with the branch line to the silver and lead mine (East Wheal Rose).

Lappa Valley is the only attraction in Cornwall that transports families on an exciting nostalgic steam train ride, along with offering an opportunity to meet a fleet of steam engines. There is a wealth of family-friendly activities to enjoy on Lappa’s 35-acre site, including a canoeing lake, crazy golf course, outdoor adventures, indoor play and woodland walks.

“We have worked closely with the design team to understand the client’s brief. Through collaborative working, solutions were agreed to address the fire strategy and accessibility issues to ensure a compliant building was delivered. Regular design team meetings since the planning stage with the project manager has helped to cement relationships despite the geographical position of this project. The construction team will now be working closely with our site inspector to ensure this building lives up to expectations and achieves compliance with the Building Regulations”.

Operations Director, Andy Clark

We provide an Approved Inspector service for construction developments throughout England and Wales. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience to support your project to achieve compliance with Building Regulations. To speak to us about a new or existing project, please contact us on 01275 848 228 or visit www.cookbrown.co.uk