Exciting new pictures of the proposed surfing lagoon and wellness resort destined for the county can be revealed by KentOnline.

Planners are hoping to have the inland surfing space, which will generate artificial waves and be known as The Seahive, open by 2025.

It is planned for land at former colliery Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal, and will attract thousands of visitors to the area each year.

An application for it has been submitted to Dover District Council alongside separate plans for a 120-bed luxury hotel, spa and gym.

A decision on both is expected to be made early next year.

The overall masterplan for the 15-acre site will feature a Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon at its centre, which can create more than 20 different wave types from 50cm to 2m, providing rides of up to 15 seconds long for all ages and abilities.

There will also be 15 accommodation pods, a wellness centre with yoga and fitness zones, cold water therapy, meditation pavilions and a splash pool.

If approved, the lagoon will be the second of its kind in England and the seventh of its kind in the world following facilities in Melbourne, South Korea, Switzerland, Brazil, Wales and Bristol.

However those critical of the scheme have asked why Kent needs a surf resort when the county is surrounded by the sea.

Jim Storey, chief executive and founder of The Seahive explains it is because Kent is 'one of the most surf-locked' parts of the UK as the conditions in the sea are not ideal for the sport.

He added: "There are no waves in Kent. Every so often places like Joss Bay and Viking Bay light up if there is a big north easterly swell, but that’s quite rare.

"Kent is not renowned for its surfing at all, in fact, a lot of people who love surfing drive six hours to Cornwall or hop on a flight somewhere abroad and that’s not ideal when it comes to the use of fossil fuels.

"The sea is not a particularly welcoming environment for children or people who suffer from various mental and physical disabilities but this is a space designed for all abilities.

"Back in June the Environment Agency advised us not to go swimming around the Kent coastline because of sewage which is an absolute joke in this day and age with corporates treating the sea as a dumping ground."

Mr Storey added: "It’s really important it’s an authentic destination, not just a big lump of concrete in the ground which a lot of people think it’s going to be.

"It's crucial this is a place which can be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities and disabilities.

"It’s a safe space where people can push boundaries, make friendships, connect with their communities and experience personal growth.

"This is a purpose driven business, it’s not a money making scheme.

"I'm not a guy in a pinstriped suit, or a developer, this is a purpose lead destination which is really important."

Protestors against the plans recently gathered outside the park over fears the development will cause serious harm to wildlife.

The demonstration was organised by Friends of Betteshanger who are worried the development will affect the area's animals and plants - with concerns for skylarks, lizards and doves in particular.

However bosses behind the project urge those objecting to take a deeper look at their plans for sustainability and biodiversity which they say will actually be improved by 11% once the project is finished.

Alex Kalorkoti, consultant to Betteshanger Country Park, said: "What people objecting to it have rightly identified is that there are valuable habitats and important species here.

"We have been aware of that from the outset and we have incorporated ecology into our plans.

"It's not development first, and the environment as an afterthought.

"We’ve set aside 11 hectares of the country park which is furthest away from the hub activity and the car park.

"That land will become part of the ecological management plan.

"We are also funding an ecology warden because at the moment there are no people dedicated to ecology on the site.

"By doing this, the habitats are being managed in the long term, so we keep favourable conditions for lizard orchids, turtle doves and invertebrates.

"It will be just over 11% biodiversity net gain.

"We are accepting that our proposal will lead to an initial loss of habitat, but what we are doing is more than offsetting that."

Overlooking the lagoon which can be used by up to 80 people at a time will be a clubhouse with a surf academy as well as a restaurant and bar, conference facility, retail outlet, chill out spaces, dedicated work area and immersive balcony.

The dedicated learning hive will run a full-time schedule of courses for children via surf therapy and educational intervention programmes to enhance and protect their mental health.

If all goes to plan, bosses hope the hotel and surf facility will open by April 2025.

Designed by architects Hollaway Studio, the combined £50 million projects are part of the country park's wider plans to expand.

This year alone a Mining Museum and cafe and restaurant were added to its offering, which also includes cycling tracks and play areas.

Stuart O’Leary, head of Betteshanger Country Park, explains: "Since we took the park on in 2019, it was in a sorry state so we have had to really work to get revenue and drive footfall.

"We put £2 million into the investment centre, we finished off the mining museum, the Lamp Room and built the business up to get it almost into the black.

"We have nearly doubled the footfall since taking over and this year we are hoping to triple it but still we are looking for other ways to make it more sustainable and these developments would really help with that.

"There is a massive shortage of hotel provision in the local area, there’s literally about 100 rooms in a mile radius of the park.

"We have events here which we could attract far more people to if there was a hotel."