Alton Towers in Staffordshire has submitted a planning application for a £12.5 million indoor attraction, currently dubbed ‘Project Horizon’.
Owned by Merlin Entertainments, the park has submitted its plans to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, according to StokeonTrentLive.
The new attraction will be housed within a building on a site used as a maintenance and storage yard and previously occupied by the Alton Mouse.
“Alton Towers Resort is committed to refreshing and diversifying its offer to ensure that it attracts the next generation of visitors in an increasingly competitive market,” a spokesperson told the publication.
‘Project Horizon’
“This will help secure existing jobs and create new employment opportunities.”
“We are immensely proud of our rural location and this plays a key consideration in how we manage the site and shape plans for the future,” they added.
“The resort will continue to engage with and support the local community in which we are based.”
The plans include the main building, an entrance feature, a plaza and a queue area. The project will enhance the visitor economy and contribute to the economic growth of the Staffordshire Moorlands district.
“The design of the new attraction will respect its surroundings both in landscape and heritage terms, and the design approach will seek to meet the expectations of resort guests whilst respecting the heritage of the site and its surroundings including biodiversity and woodland landscape,” the planning application says.
“A large benefit of the proposal is that it allows AltonTowers Resort to continue to attract guests and allows the resort to remain competitive within an increasingly competitively market,” it adds. “In turn, this provides noteworthy economic benefits in the form of tourism and employment.”
Alton Towers recently closed its famous Nemesis roller coaster for a major revamp. The ride, which has operated at the theme park since 1994, is due to reopen in 2024.
Elsewhere, Thorpe Park’s plans for a new roller coaster, known as ‘Project Exodus’, have been approved by Runnymede Borough Council.
Images: Merlin Entertainments
