Alton Towers' Next Big Thing?

[VonRolland]

After a long period of inactivity, Theme Park Worldwide has today posted an update on Project Horizon, both in terms of concrete things and in terms of what Shawn’s own sources (who have previously proven quite reliable) are telling him about the project’s status:

In summary:

• Shawn’s sources are leading him to believe that Project Horizon is still going ahead and will be opening in 2027, with land clearance beginning in early 2025 and major construction work starting in mid-2025.
• Shawn has suggested that the ride could potentially be an Intamin Multidimensional Coaster, with some form of “double deal” having been formed encompassing both Horizon and the upcoming Chessington coaster. He’s alleged that “a number of manufacturers” were consulted for the attraction, but that Intamin “were the key frontrunner”.
• He has heard rumours of the ride being space-themed.

Now of course none of this is confirmation, and Shawn himself was keen to stress this, but if true, it is certainly quite exciting and promising with regard to the ride’s status!

It is worth noting that minor stuff is still happening with this project, albeit slowly. Just recently, the updated Woodland Management Plan, submitted by Alton earlier this year, was approved.

hopefully it won't be as disappointingly short as the one at CWOA

 

[Jamesss]

If there's one thing I would put money on, it's that it'll have a disappointingly short ride time, no matter what it is.

 

[owenstreet7]

If there's one thing I would put money on, it's that it'll have a disappointingly short ride time, no matter what it is.

This does seem to be the trend for Merlin at the moment Lower Capacity, Short Ride Duration, Higher Queue Times and More Fast Track sales

 

[Rob Coasters]

According to someone elsewhere, this is a revival of the original Horizon application.
The park is allegedly wanting to amend the conditions so they do not have to do a full soil assessment before it goes ahead.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

 

[VonRolland]

According to someone elsewhere, this is a revival of the original Horizon application.
The park is allegedly wanting to amend the conditions so they do not have to do a full soil assessment before it goes ahead.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

Scared the soil assessment will come back 99 percent fiberglass from all the old ride vehicles they dump back there

 

[Nicky Borrill]

According to someone elsewhere, this is a revival of the original Horizon application.
The park is allegedly wanting to amend the conditions so they do not have to do a full soil assessment before it goes ahead.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

Possibly... This is an application to discharge conditions 13 and 19... But more often you'd apply to discharge conditions when you feel you've done what is required to comply with those conditions. Guess we'll find out soon. (Or in January if they've broken up.)

13. The development hereby approved shall not commence (excepting works necessitated to comply with this condition) until a remediation strategy to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site in respect of the development hereby permitted, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. This strategy will include the following components:

a) A site investigation scheme to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off-site.

b) The results of the site investigation and the detailed risk assessment referred to in (a)and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy giving full details of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken.

c) A verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in the remediation strategy in (b) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages,maintenance and arrangements for contingency action. Any changes to these components require the written consent of the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented as approved prior to the first operation of the attraction.

Reason:- To ensure that the development does not contribute to or is not put at unacceptable risk from/adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of water pollution in line with paragraph 174 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

19. Prior to any ground works or excavation associated with the development hereby approved, a Soils Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA that has due regard to stripping and reserving existing soils or other material from the existing areas prior to spreading at agreed locations on the wider resort. The submitted soils plan shall include information regarding the reservation and storage of the existing soils on the proposed spreading areas. Spreading areas will require their existing topsoil cover to be stripped, reserved, temporarily stored and re-laid in accordance with the DEFRA Construction Code of Practice for Sustainable Use of Soils on Construction Sites. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plan.

Reason:- In order to control the spreading of soils throughout the wider Alton Towers Resort an to ensure that planted areas are effectively protected from inappropriately located spreading of spoil and to further protect against any impacts on the registered garden or other heritage asset.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

So Yeh, seems I was right and they're submitting the following documents needed to comply, and thus discharge those conditions...

- Contaminated Land Remediation Strategy Review, prepared by PCA Safety Ltd;
- Soil Management Plan, prepared by PCA Safety Ltd;
- Proposed Site Plan (Proposed Bund Location) (ATPH-SA-XX-XX-DR-A-0103 ref. P.06), prepared by Smytheman Architectural; and
- Ground Investigation Report, prepared by LK Consult

Is it starting to look like the project may be back on?