Green light for £50m Leisuredome
The £50m proposed Leisuredome development in Weston-super-Mare has been given the go-ahead by officials. Eric Pickles, the secretary of state for communities and local government, has allowed North Somerset Council to grant planning permission for the leisure attraction.
North Somerset Council granted planning permission for the development on 21 July 2011.
The Leisuredome will be built on a 12.7-acre site at Locking Parklands, a former RAF site that is undergoing a £400m redevelopment into a sustainable community by St Modwen on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency.
It is hoped that the Leisuredome attraction will be "a major boost for the South West economy" bringing in 500,000 visitors and £369m each year.
More than 573 direct jobs will be created, along with 256 indirect jobs, and the centre has already secured 92 per cent of retail and activity concessions.
It will feature a 210-metre ski slope and an indoor 40-metre indoor climbing wall, which its creators claim are the longest in the UK and highest in the world respectively.
In addition there will be an indoor surfing centre and sky-diving facility, children's centre, BMX skateboard park, gymnasium and meeting facilities.
The Leisuredome was created by Mark and Clive Hamilton-Davies along with a host of regional businesses including Clarke Willmott, Davis Langdon, Chartwell Funding, GVA, Sir Robert McAlpine and Key Transport.
Clive Hamilton-Davies, director, Leisuredome (UK): "This is significant milestone for the Leisuredome team and we are absolutely delighted that permission has been granted for the development to now proceed."
"We hope that the Leisuredome will provide tremendous benefits to residents, local businesses and the wider community and look forward to working in partnership with the local community to make Leisuredome a great success."
Construction of the Leisuredome is expected to begin at the end of 2011 with completion and opening planned for 2013.
