luge

A MULTI-MILLION pound attraction is set to open in the UK – taking over an abandoned ski resort.

Around a mile from the city centre, Sheffield Ski Village closed over a decade ago and has been left abandoned since.

Now, under new plans the ski village will be transformed into a £20million attraction with a luge ride, a family playground and future plans for a zip line and surfing experience.

Located at Parkwood Springs, the first phase would include building a gravity-fed downhill karting attraction, also known as a luge.

This phase would also include a playground, a spot to grab a drink or bite to eat and an indoor attraction called ‘Beat the Storm’ – though details about what this is are yet to be revealed.

Later phases would then focus on opening a zipline and a surfing experience, as well as potentially reopening the dry slopes.

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Skyline Enterprises – the New Zealand-based adventure tourism company behind the attraction – state on a website dedicated to the project that it would be “one of the city’s most exciting new leisure destinations”.

It adds: “Whether you want to ride down the hillside, explore the trails, grab a bite to eat, or simply see your city from a brand-new angle, Skyline Sheffield will have something for everyone.”

The ski village opened back in 1998 and used to be a training base for British Winter Olympians.

However, it has been closed since 2012 after a fire destroyed most of the village.

And over the years there have been plans to transform it into an outdoor activity centre.

However, this never materialised and the current plans to open it as an attraction have been discussed over the past decade.

A planning application is expected to be submitted later this year.

Geoff McDonald, CEO of Skyline Enterprises, said: “We know that Parkwood Springs has been a challenging site to bring forward over the years, but with strong support from Sheffield City Council and an experienced project team on board, the pieces are now in place to deliver something truly special for the city.”

Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Our plans to transform Parkwood Springs into a vibrant and thriving area of the city are continuing to move forward, and Skyline’s plans for the old Ski Village site remain a focal point of the work we are doing.

“The site has had many false starts over the years, but I am now delighted to see the latest proposed details for their facility.”

A MULTI-MILLION pound karting attraction is set to come to a major seaside city.

Thrill-seekers will be able to experience the ride in just two years time.

The brand-new attraction – known as Skyline Swansea – is set to bring Europe’s first ever skyline luge to the Welsh city.

The £49million experience will see visitors taking a cable car up the mile-long stretch from the Copper Quarter to Kilvey Hill.

Once there, thrill-seekers will be able to ride a three-wheeled luge cart – a type of reclining sled – down a 1,012-meter snaking track, propelling visitors downwards using gravity.

Three luge tracks will be available to ride upon opening, along with a children’s adventure park, a 50mph sky swing, and a 150-seat restaurant with a separate bar area.

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The mountain biking trails that are currently available on the hill will also be maintained and improved, with additional trails to be added.

New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises, the firm behind the project, revealed that construction is currently underway, with an estimated completion date of mid-2028.

The leisure company said their mission was to “open up Kilvey Hill for everyone to enjoy, bringing accessible tourism to the heart of Swansea” and “where the sweeping views of Swansea Bay, Gower, and Bannau Brycheiniog can be enjoyed by all”.

This marks the firm’s first project in the UK, having built similar style sites across New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and South Korea.

The 193-metre hill also remains a popular site for hikers, cyclists and trail runners, with an estimated 140,000 visitors each year.

However, the new attraction is projected to bring in upwards of 450,000 visitors annually, with more than half coming from outside of Wales.