A Landmark Investment in Family Leisure

Great Wolf Resorts, a leading U.S.-based family entertainment brand, is making its European debut with a £200 million development on a 46-acre site in the village of Chesterton, near Bicester. The resort will feature a 498-room hotel, a state-of-the-art indoor water park, multiple dining options, conference facilities, and an expansive family entertainment centre.

Designing for Innovation and Efficiency

One of the key challenges during the design phase was securing sufficient utilities for the site, given the constraints of the local infrastructure. Overcoming this hurdle was a significant achievement, enabling the delivery of a highly efficient and sustainable development.

The design incorporates a rainwater harvesting system that serves all WCs across the site. Using a 4,000m³ attenuation tank, rainwater is stored and intelligently discharged only when rainfall is forecasted, reducing offsite drainage and enhancing sustainability.

Hotel rooms are equipped with low-energy fan coil units that eliminate the need for secondary ductwork, improving acoustic performance, reducing installation time, and lowering both operational costs and carbon emissions.

A resilient heating and hot water system led by air source heat pumps—with gas backup—ensures reliable performance across the site.

From the outset, the project has embraced off-site prefabrication to optimise build quality and streamline the construction programme.

Image credit: EPR Architects