A FIVE-YEAR refurbishment plan for a massive activity centre in Mid Cheshire has been unveiled.

If planning permission is granted, the 70-acre Birchwood Activity Centre in Sandiway is to be refurbished, at a cost of £750,000.

The site has been operating for 60 years. Scout leaders are hoping the refurbishment will attract school parties as well as Scout trips from across the area, which Birchwood is currently used for.

Plans include the refurbishment of a large accommodation block, a kitchen extension, replacement storage units, a toilet and shower block, an upgrade of the worship area, a wet weather shelter and the refurbishment of the central toilet block.

The site is owned by Cheshire County Scout Council and consists of woodland and clearings with several large pools.

The capacity of the site is 650 people and, from an activity centre in the grounds, children can get involved a range of sports and crafts.

Facilities include a climbing and abseiling tower, a low-level climbing wall, two obstacle courses, canoeing and rafting in the round pool, camp craft forestry, incident exercises, orienteering, pioneering, stalking and tracking facilities, nature study and field work.

Scout bosses are hoping that if the refurbishment gets the go-ahead they will be able to provide even more activities from the centre.

Steve Walker, from Cheshire County Scout Council, said: 'We hope that we will be able to do more activities here once the refurbishment has taken place. We have some pretty well-qualified staff to do things like fire lighting, which schools can have a problem in doing themselves from a health and safety point of view.'

Key parts of the upgrade will include a total refurbishment of an accommodation block. The upgrade of the camp worship area will also include covered seating.

If the application is approved, the site may also be considered for an upgrade to become a national country park, which would mean that the public could have some access to the grounds.

A spokesman for the Scout council added: 'There has been a significant reduction in income at the site and a gradual decline in the standards of the building.

'We have recognised this must be halted and have identified the need for a comprehensive, managed, long-term, coherent programme of building work that would improve the sustainability of the campsite, meeting current needs whilst not compromising the facilities for future generations.

'Birchwood is ideal for providing a diversity of recreational and educational pursuits for young people in a safe and secluded country environment. It can provide an excellent base for Duke of Edinburgh Award activities and for coursework in the current curriculum at both primary and secondary level.

'The site could also offer youngsters the opportunity to do traditional Scouting activities.'

The planning application is expected to be heard in the next few weeks and, if it goes through, work will start in February with the refurbishment of the toilet block.