A HOLIDAY resort costing £1.25m could be created at a popular Derbyshire shopping village.

The new scheme, which would offer log cabin accommodation and caravan spaces, would be built alongside the existing Peak Village Outlet at Rowsley.

There are also plans for a children's play area and convenience store for people staying there.

The scheme is the brainchild of Martin Langsdale and Terrence Morgan, managing and marketing agents for Peak Shopping Village, who believe the plan would increase its revenue from £750,000 a year to over £1m, in addition to the extra trade nearby businesses could receive.

It would also create more than 20 new job opportunities for local people.

Mr Morgan said: "The plans have so far received an extremely positive response because retailers and their employees recognise that the development will have a very positive impact on visitor numbers and will contribute greatly to local tourism and the local economy in general."

Among those interested in the plan is Graham Stocks, bar manager at nearby pub the Grouse and Claret.

He said: "The number of tourists who come into the area is huge, so a resort like this will only improve that and if people staying at the new place want a drink in the evening, they'll come over to us.

"On the other hand, we offer camping facilities here, so we hope the holiday village won't take business away from us."

But Carol Cauldwell, owner of Rowsley Hall Farm bed and breakfast, was not happy about the proposal and said the new resort would add to the already high volumes of traffic in the area.

She said: "I'm totally against it. My husband farms in the area and the traffic delays can mean he is held up for hours trying to get crops taken in.

"Our B&B will be all right but I think something like this will just add to the feeling that this area, which used to be a pleasant rural village, is being turned into a concrete paradise."

Mr Langsdale and Mr Morgan are looking into ways of financing the scheme, which would also need planning approval from Derbyshire Dales District Council.

If it gets the go-ahead, work on the site could begin in the summer, with a view to opening early in 2010.