Wales’ £300m longest indoor ski slope nears approval

Construction of Wales’ £300 million (€342 million) indoor ski resort is set to begin soon, pending the final approval. This vast leisure complex will feature one of Europe’s longest indoor ski slopes, as well as a tropical water park. As the Welsh government has decided not to call the application in, the final decision now rests with the local planning authority that originally approved the project in March.

The world-class leisure resort will be open all year round and will house a conference centre and an artificial indoor beach – the perfect place to unwind after a day on the slopes or after discussing important matters. Designed as a fully fledged multi-activity resort, Rhydycar West Development will feature not only a ski slope and tropical slides, but also an adventure park, a mountain coaster, a Clip ’n’ Climb, zip wires, and a range of family-oriented attractions.

The ski centre is planned to meet International Ski Federation (FIS) standards, with specialist equipment ensuring the slopes remain usable throughout the year. This is a non-negotiable requirement, as the facility aims to become the future headquarters for Team GB’s winter sports and Paralympic teams.

Following Merthyr Tydfil Council’s support in March, Welsh Government has confirmed it will not be calling in our planning application — giving the green light for the project to move forward.

Exciting times ahead! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/PVb2oHL2AR

— Rhydycar West (@RhydycarWest) November 21, 2025

Located in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, the resort will offer a variety of accommodation options, including woodland lodges for nature lovers and a hotel for guests who prefer the lively atmosphere of après-ski and the luxury spa treatments on offer.

As such, the project is positioned to become a catalyst for economic development in the region and to create ‘opportunities’ for future generations. Rhydycar West CEO Ali Tyebkhan has promised that the development will bring “lasting economic, social and regeneration benefits to the region”. He also thanked the Welsh Government and the local community, whose ‘belief and enthusiasm’ in the project played a vital role in ‘achieving this milestone’.

In a letter, the Welsh Government explained that, while there were issues of conflict with national policy, these were not of a scale requiring ministerial intervention. “The application will not be called in for determination by the Welsh Ministers”, it confirmed.

The planning application is expected to return to the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee in early 2026. Despite a recommendation to refuse, the committee had already backed the proposal in March 2025, voting unanimously in favour.

This decision has been welcomed by the snow sports community. Robin Kellen, chief executive of Snowsport Cymru Wales, shared his “delight at this exciting news”, calling it ‘huge for snow sports in Wales and the wider GB community’. He added that it would likely result in increased opportunities for people to participate in skiing and snowboarding at local and national levels within Wales, as well as being a huge step forward in terms of the potential to develop competitions and training for our GB team athletes.

The developers estimate that the project will create 842 jobs and contribute £38.1 million (€43.5) to the local economy. Many locals appear to share that optimism. As one resident wrote on social media, the resort “will transform the town, its economy and, just as importantly, change how Merthyr Tydfil is so often unfairly talked about”.