One of the world's largest indoor snow centres yet could be built in South Wales if ambitious plans for a new complex at Merthyr continue to move forward.
A company called Marvel Ltd (but not believed to be any relation to the famous comic strip/movie franchise) has acquired a former colliery site and is now moving forwards with its ambitions to build a multi-adventure sports activity and leisure centre, complete with hotels and a residential property development.
The ski slope part of the as yet unnamed plans would see a 500 metre long indoor snow slope – almost three times as long as the current longest in the UK, the 180m slope at Chill Factore near Manchester – built along side facilities that would also include a permanent surf wave, a horse riding centre, an indoor bike and skating park, adventure park and zip line.
The facility would be a base for Snowsport Cymru Wales, who are working with Marvel Ltd on the development with the aim of also making it a future training base for the Team GB ski and snowboard team.
Marvel bought the site at the former coal mining Rhydycar West site which covers 575 acres four years ago and has been drawing up its plans for several years. It now says 'informal consultations' will begin in October with locals and the various public bodies that will be involved with a view to submitting a formal planning application during 2018. It has put a price tag on the project of £450m.
Several of the 70+ indoor snow centres around the world have been built on former coal mining sites including some of the largest in France, Austria and Germany as well as the SnoZone at the Xscape centre between Leeds and Hull at Castleford in England.
At 500m the Merthyr Centre would rank among the five longest indoor snow slopes in the world, the longest of which in France and Germany claim slope lengths of around 620-640 metres.