A £500 million ski hotel in Suffolk may be deserted, after investors threatened to “leave” if a nearby landfill granted a 13-year extension.
Plans to build Valley Ridge, with one of the UK’s largest indoor ski slopes, as a snow dome hosting a variety of winter sports, have been under work for 20 years.
But those at the 284-acre site say they’re putting their most recent request on hold to make plans, arguing it’s “completely incompatible with a working landfill next door. “
Suffolk County Council said it won a request to craft plans to allow Freemasons in Great Blakenham to continue operating in the future.
A council spokesman said: “The board is executing the applicable procedure to evaluate the main points of the application, so we are in a position to give our opinion at this stage. “
But investors in Valley Ridge, formerly known as SnOasis, say any expansion “will be fatal to the £500 million new investment and 2,000 new jobs”.
They threatened to “move if the landfill operation is allowed to continue. “
Simon Padgett of Valley Ridge said, “Our Valley Ridge plans are underway.
“We have a bidding structure to build the project and we are about to hire the major hotel and recreational operators. “
“All we ask is that Suffolk councillors compare the benefits between the huge benefits to Suffolk of having this economically advantageous valley crest attraction, and the expansion of the operation of an unnecessary and environmentally friendly landfill. “
He argued that, in his view: “The expansion of landfill operation is a direct violation of Suffolk’s own policies, which allow landfill as a last resort.
“This is necessary, because Suffolk already has enough landfill capacity.
“This diverts waste from greener disposal methods, and is counterproductive to the policy of taking more landfills than we produce in the county. “
SnOasis himself divided opinions in Suffolk before his call to Valley Ridge.
Opposition to early plans has led to a survey on planning, while newer plans show a new emphasis on year-round recreation and short remains for families.
However, Mr Padgett said: “We are very happy that the main local reaction is ‘when can we come’ and the Suffolk companies is ‘how can we gain advantages and get involved’. “
What’s in the plans?
Newer projects include a water park as well as a 350-room four-star hotel with spa and wellness center.
In a first step to consolidate the “family” atmosphere, the casino, the gaming room and the disco were removed from the plans, to concentrate on the retail trade.
There would also be activities such as climbing and top ropes, zip lines, archery and adventure golf, as well as a winter park with sledding tracks and ice caves in addition to the ski slope.
There are still plans to include restaurants and cafes, as well as 500 independent cabins.
Chronology: how SnOasis developed