Plans to build the UK’s longest ski slope in the Welsh Valleys have been approved by councillors.
At a meeting of Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, members decided to back the £300m project, despite a report which recommended its rejection.
The indoor snow centre, measuring up to 39,200 sq m in area, is set to include a ski slope between 400m and 424m long.
Currently, the longest indoor real snow ski slope in the UK is Chill Factore in Manchester, which is 180m long, and most of the handful of other UK indoor slopes are between 150m and 170m.
The Merthyr site is also expected to feature a tropical waterpark, indoor activity centre and outdoor activity area and provide hotel accommodation, with up to 418 bedrooms and up to 30 woodland lodges.
A petition calling for the plans to be approved has been signed by more than 2,800 people.
Marvel Limited, the company behind the proposals, noted in its application that the Rhydycar West development would have a “highly significant positive impact” on the local economy.
An estimated 842 jobs are set to be created once the site is operational, with an annual contribution to the local economy of £38.1m forecast.
But a report in front of the council’s planning committee recommended the plans be refused.
In its conclusions, the report found “the potential economic and social benefits… would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site”.
At the meeting, members voted against the report’s recommendation and instead voted to support the proposal.
Ali Tyebkhan, Rhydycar West’s chief executive, said the decision was a “huge step forward” for the development.
“As the UK’s national centre of excellence for snowsport, Rhydycar West will be the home and training HQ of the Welsh and GB National, Paralympic and Olympic teams, while boosting local businesses, the town centre, and cultural attractions,” he added.
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The centre would be built on a site southwest of the centre of Merthyr Tydfil, just off the A470 dual carriageway, one of the main north-south roads through Wales.
The plans will now be referred to Welsh government ministers for further consideration.
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