The Planning, Regulatory and Licensing committee has decided to support the Rhydycar West project, which will see the UK’s longest indoor snow centre
At 400 metres, the Rhydycar West has been given the green light, as council members decided against recommendations to refuse consent, despite the site being on former mining land.
The planning application was submitted in 2023, and the Welsh government confirmed it would not intervene in November, sending it back to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council for final review.
The project will create both a sports and leisure resort
As well as having the longest indoor snow centre, the £300m proposal also includes a tropical indoor waterpark, an indoor and outdoor adventure centre, hotels, and woodland lodges utilising the beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
It is thought that the project will create 1,500 construction jobs, 1,200 of which will be local, and 800 permanent jobs once the resort is operational.
Leader of the Merthyr Tydfil council, Cllr Brent Carter, said: “Rhydycar West is without doubt groundbreaking and a complete game changer for Merthyr Tydfil, complementing the offerings of Bike Park Wales, Zip World and Rock UK-Climbing Centre.
“This project will massively support and boost our economy and offer multiple opportunities for our future generations.
“The amount of support for Rhydycar West has been truly overwhelming. I, for one, am thrilled.”
Universal Studios theme park was also granted planning permission late last year
After Universal submitted a Special Development Order, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, granted permission for a Universal Studios theme park to be built in Bedfordshire.
The park will be built on brownfield land on the site of a disused brickworks, and improvements will be made to nearby infrastructure, including the nearby Stewartby railway station, Wixams railway station, and new slip roads along the A421.
The park is expected to create 20,000 construction jobs, followed by 8,000 permanent positions. It is estimated that 80% of these jobs will go to local workers.
At the time, Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, confirmed his intention to “work closely with residents, the council, and Universal Studios as the project moves forward, to ensure the infrastructure our communities need is delivered so that we can reap the rewards of this exciting development”.
Page Thompson, president of new ventures, Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “I want to express my sincere appreciation for the continued engagement from Bedford and the various communities surrounding our site, as well as the many other national and local stakeholders who have provided feedback and expressed such enthusiasm on the transformative nature of our project.”
