Plans submitted to secure future of The Villa at Wrea Green while creating VetPlus training centre

A country hotel that was bought by a local businessman after entering administration will be the home of a training and conference centre if new plans are approved.

The Villa at Wrea Green entered administration in April 2025 before being purchased by Fylde-based David Haythornthwaite, of the Tangerine Group, for £3.6m in a deal confirmed in September 2025.

At that time, Haythornthwaite said that the intention was to turn it into ‘one of the the North West’s premier conference and banqueting facilities.’

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The new plans aim to update the existing facilities at the hotel while creating the VetPlus academy. VetPlus is a veterinary pharmaceutical company that was founded by Haythornthwaite in 1995.

The plans include a new 25-metre swimming pool, 20 new bedrooms and lecture theatres and have been pulled together by the Frank Whittle Partnership who have worked on a number of projects related to The Tangerine Group in the past. They also designed the 2010 expansion of The Villa when it was under Simon Rigby’s ownership.

David Robinson, FWP Managing Director, said: “The upgrading of The Villa will help protect the future of one of Lancashire’s most iconic leisure and hospitality venues. The plans we have worked on will deliver an exciting new chapter for the hotel.

“This is a very welcome investment in the local economy by a company that has a strong track record of delivery, illustrated by the success of Mill Farm, which has become a true destination venue for sport, leisure and entertainment as well as high-quality logistics and manufacturing operations.”

David Haythornthwaite, chairman of Tangerine Group, said: “The Fylde has always been home for Tangerine Group, and we are proud to continue investing in the community where the business began.

“Over the past three decades we have grown from a small business in a disused builders’ yard in Freckleton, to a company whose products are trusted by vets in 54 countries across the world.”