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UK's longest ski slope 'once in lifetime' opportunity

Anthony Lewis
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Rhydycar West An artist's impression of how the plans might look. A long futuristic building stretches up a steep hillside with trees either side. In front of the slope a group of buildings run either side to the left and the right forming a 'T' shape. In front of them a building stands on its own with a green roof and a set of slides emerging out of one external wall and curling around before re-entering the building. Rhydycar West
The £300m proposal has received public backing

Plans to build the UK's longest ski slope in Merthyr Tydfil have been described as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity by councillors.

The £300m Rhydycar West development would feature an indoor snow centre as well as a tropical waterpark and activity centre.

The planning application from Marvel Ltd was recommended for refusal by Merthyr council officers due to concerns over its planned location, sustainability, scale, impact on the view and ecology.

But at a planning committee on Wednesday, councillors voted against the recommendation and backed the project which could create an estimated 842 jobs and inject an additional £38m into the local economy each year.

The plans, first mooted in 2017, will now go before planning inspectorate Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) who will consider whether to call it in.

The attraction, which covers land to the south west of the A470/A4102 roundabout, would also include as many as 418 hotel rooms and up to 30 lodges.

During Wednesday's meeting, councillor Clive Jones said it was by far the largest application that had come before the committee for decades, adding he had received more representations of support for this than any other application in 21 years.

The council received more than 420 letters in support of the application and a petition in its favour has been signed by more than 2,800 people.

Jones said the long-term economic benefit would be "unbelievable".

He added: "Merthyr Tydfil needs massive investment and we have a duty to move this application for current and future generations."

Councillor Declan Sammon said it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to bring something to Merthyr Tydfil that would "benefit our children and grandchildren".

He said if the application was approved, the council would have done its part and it would be down to the Welsh government and the developers to deliver for the people of Merthyr Tydfil.

Councillor Gareth Lewis said the council must show its "ambitions match the opportunities", while councillor Lee Davies said the development would establish Merthyr Tydfil as a major leisure and tourism destination.

Holder Mathias Architects An artist's impression of how the plans might look. A long futuristic building with a rounded glass front stretches up a steep hillside with round windows running alongside the walls. There is another large building with a glass front to its left, with a large car park with shrubs between vehicles in front of the two.Holder Mathias Architects
Council officers say more must be done to mitigate the plan's impact on the local ecology and landscape

There have been 25 objections to the plans as well as officers' recommendation for refusal based on the negative impact on sites of special scientific interest and a site of importance for nature conservation.

Concerns have also been voiced about the loss of a portion of ancient woodland protected by a tree preservation order.

In their conclusion, officers said: "On balance the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation, significant private investment, and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site."

Meanwhile, residents have expressed concern over potential damage to the canal, increased traffic, air pollution and the visual impact on the Merthyr Tydfil landscape of outstanding historic interest.

In March 2024 the council was told by the Welsh government it could refuse the application but a decision to grant planning permission would likely be ultimately taken by ministers.