52 Changing | Tees skyline Business : Artist ’ s impressions ( below
and inset ) of how the Middlesbrough snow centre could look .
THERE ’ S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS
Dave Allan talks to Middlesbrough Council chiefs about the sensational plans to attract millions of leisure visitors to the area via a snow centre
Ambitious plans to create an iconic £ 30 million snow centre at Middlehaven will transform Middlesbrough into a major visitor attraction . The scheme has already been granted outline planning permission and work is now going on behind the scenes on the project ’ s finer details .
Cool Runnings ( NE ) – the Teesside company behind the scheme – is targeting September 2019 for the snow centre to be open for business … and lots of leisure .
And with projected visitors of 2.25 million a year to the centre , success-focused Middlesbrough Council chiefs say the aspirational scheme will drive a blizzard of further investments as more exciting leisure operators look to locate around the central attraction .
Tony Parkinson , Middlesbrough Council ’ s interim chief executive , says the snow centre will transform the national profile and public perception of the town , making it a go-to destination for hundreds of thousands of leisure-seekers who will travel to Teesside from across the north of England and beyond .
“ There is no question the snow centre has the potential to transform the town ,” says Parkinson . “ It will create a go-to destination .
“ It ’ s hard to get your head around projected visitors of 2.25m a year , but this isn ’ t our guesswork – those figures are from independent professionals who have studied the impact of other snow centres across the UK and Europe .”
The council is working hand-in-hand with Cool Runnings to help deliver a crucial part of the local authority ’ s dramatic plans to transform Middlesbrough by 2020 via investments totalling £ 700m - £ 74m of which will come from the council itself .
Through Middlesbrough ’ s Investment Prospectus , they are looking to create 5,000 new jobs in the town through a series of exciting developments including Grade A town centre office space , a 450-bed student village , a media and innovation village and 5,500 new homes .
Although the council is not directly investing in the snow centre , it is working in partnership with Cool Runnings to maximise the opportunities that automatically follow such a transformational scheme .
Central to that is a new three-lane bridge at Middlehaven Dock and new access road , with work due to get underway by July for completion in around 18 months . Both are key elements of nearly £ 10m of infrastructure
“ There is no question the snow centre has the potential to transform the town ... it will create a go-to destination .”
investment that will open up the entire Middlehaven zone for further developments around the snow centre by making the whole area more accessible .
The road and bridge will link the A66 at North Ormesby with Middlehaven via Shepherdson Way alongside the Riverside Stadium , across the dock to the Temenos sculpture and along to Vulcan Street , close to the Transporter Bridge , eventually emerging at Newport interchange .
The plans will not only boost existing Middlehaven enterprises but play a vital role in supporting the snow centre proposals and other potential spin-off developments .
There are plans for an indoor skydiving hub within a leg of the snow centre , whilst the list of potential spin-off leisure activities to entertain visitors from far and wide includes an ice climbing wall , trampoline park , six restaurants and four retail outlets focused on the outdoor pursuits market .
Kevin Parkes , Middlesbrough Council ’ s executive director of growth and place , explains : “ The dock bridge and what will be a major through road will naturally provide access to the snow centre but they will also open up the whole Middlehaven area .
“ The Council owns another 60 acres of land in that area . This improved access will make Middlehaven an even more attractive investment prospect for those wishing to piggyback on the snow centre development .”
Parkinson adds : “ You can ’ t overestimate the importance of the road configuration . The snow centre will transform the town , but the new road system gives us a chance to transform the whole area .
“ The important point is that the development won ’ t just be the snow centre , as exciting as that is in its own right . We expect there to be a number of leisure activities there .
“ Around the Snow Dome at Castleford are high ropes , Quasar , a ten-pin bowling centre , trampoline park and cinema . The snow experience might only take up an hour-and-ahalf of a family ’ s visit but they ’ ll actually stay all day – and many will stay overnight too . “ With so many visitors from an area covering Berwick to York , the snow centre will automatically trigger demand for a new hotel in the immediate area , which will then drive further food , beverage and leisure facilities , whilst we ’ re also planning housing developments over there , too .
“ Nowadays people meet up with friends