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Brightlife was set up to fulfil the vision of its principal and founder, Mrs Marion MacMillan, by helping individuals understand and learn about themselves and further their own personal development. Brightlife, which is a non-profit making business, is funded by The Brightlife Foundation Limited, a beneficiary of Mrs MacMillan's estate.
The main services currently offered by Brightlife are listed below.
During the last few years, there has been a noticeable drop in the revenue received from corporate business due to cut backs on training and conference facility hire as companies have been forced to cut costs during these challenging economic times. With the current economic climate and the trend over the last few years of shrinking revenues and rising costs, we have explored the potential for growth of our current activities and identified the potential for a country spa retreat. The Spa will expand on the established and successful therapy services we currently provide to create a unique facility on the island.
The proposed Spa development would provide the current office/therapy block with a major refurbishment as well as providing an additional 3 therapy rooms, changing rooms (there aren't currently any changing facilities), a post-therapy restroom, hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms. Upgrading the current facilities to modern standards and the provision of spa facilities such as the hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms will ensure the use of the Centre into the future, providing the additional revenue the business will require in order to survive for many years to come.
The Spa facilities will also cater for much larger groups, satisfying a demand the business is not currently able to fulfil.
The Spa will enhance and complement the existing facilities and services offered at the Centre. A cross-sell between those who attend workshops, private functions and corporate business would be enhanced by the Spa. A collateral benefit will also be the provision of a larger conference room (which would better serve delegates attending body workshops and our corporate clients) and a more efficient laundry service.
Further, it is envisaged that increasing the facilities and treatments offered will result in the need to employ the services of additional therapy and administration staff, providing greater employment in the North of the island. With the draw of the Spa, we envisage more clients attending workshops at the centre from the UK and even extending their stay to enjoy the facilities and their visit to the island. There is potential, therefore, for a positive impact on other island-based businesses.
It is of high importance to the directors of The Brightlife Foundation that Brightlife uses the Ballalheaney property to maximise the benefit of the centre to the island and its residents. It is our belief that the provision of a country Spa retreat will fulfil this requirement whilst enhancing all areas of the business and ensuring its continued success into the future.
The new extension is situated at the junction of the existing office/therapy block and conference building on a piece of land that has been used as a service yard and storage area. The extension acts to connect the two existing building to provide greater flexibility in their use and provide the much needed additional spa facilities to secure Brightlife's continued success.
The proposed extension is single storey and constructed in materials to match the existing buildings e.g. slate roof, stone plinth walls, and matching casement windows etc. Located on this corner site, the majority of the new extension is concealed by the existing buildings when viewed from the public approach, and as such it has minimal impact on this collection of converted buildings.
This collection of converted farm outbuildings and the original farmhouse are situated within their own extensive grounds and further surrounded by farmland within the ownership of the applicant. As such this group of buildings is only viewed from a distance by the neighbouring properties. The proposed extension in-fills the corner site between two existing buildings and is in general contained within the visual mass of this group in such a way that may be expected as the natural extension and evolution of farm outbuildings. Architectural detailing, such as the timber louvres to some of the windows and the main gable, reinforce the agricultural references so that this building sits comfortably within the landscape.
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