Ski slope could be included in Leisure Park regeneration (From This is Hampshire)
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Ski slope could be included in Leisure Park regeneration
5:40pm Sunday 2nd September 2012 in News By Chris Gregory
AN INDOOR ski slope is one option being considered for the regeneration of Basingstoke Leisure Park.
Town planners at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council , which owns the 45-acre leisure park, want to make it a “regional leisure destination” which could create 600 jobs.
The details of the plan are in a report prepared for the borough’s community wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee, which will meet next Wednesday to discuss the regeneration strategy.
As reported by The Gazette , specialist firm Airkix won permission this summer to build a £6million complex, which will include a “freefall” indoor wind tunnel for budding skydivers.
The report by the borough’s asset manager Nicholas Collins, states the council commissioned consultants to look at filling the remaining 15 acres with new attractions.
They found that an indoor ski slope would bring large numbers of people to the leisure park, but the report added that other indoor extreme sports, such as indoor caving and diving, are potential options.
It added: “In planning ahead, the council as landowner should be in a position to capture such uses in the future, repositioning what is a dated facility and moving with the times.”
The report also mentioned the scheme would have more value if there were supporting retail and restaurant facilities.
Areas earmarked for development include land between Gala Bingo and the bowls club, land to the south of Milestones Museum, and land to the east of McDonalds and KFC restaurants.
The report added land known as Saunders Field, which lies on the other side of Churchill Way West from the leisure park, could also be developed as an “enhanced public area”, but that a new footbridge could prove expensive.
The committee has been asked to endorse the regeneration strategy, including a proposal to find a development partner for the project, before the plan goes to Cabinet.
The meeting will take place at the Civic Offices from 6.30pm on Wednesday.
