A Welsh town is set to become home to Britain's longest indoor snow centre after councillors gave the green light to a massive £300million leisure resort.
The Rhydycar West development in Merthyr Tydfil will serve as an official training base for Olympic and Paralympic snow sports athletes.
It is brilliant news for the Welsh town, which has secured approval for the ambitious project after the Welsh Government chose not to intervene in the local planning decision.
The scheme promises to transform the area into a world-class destination for winter sports enthusiasts and holidaymakers alike.
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The resort will be built on land southwest of the A470/A4102 roundabout and features an impressive array of facilities.
Visitors can look forward to a 400m indoor ski slope and water park, as well as indoor and outdoor activity centres.
There is accommodation to match the scale of the project too, with hotels offering up to 418 bedrooms and around 30 woodland lodges..
The site will also include up to 830 parking spaces to handle the expected influx of guests.
The Rhydycar West development will serve as an official training base for Olympic and Paralympic snow sports athletes
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Additional infrastructure work covers earthworks, access roads, drainage system and utilities connections to support the massive development.
Local councillors were thrilled about the project's potential to revitalise the area.
Councillor Andrew Barry emphasised tackling deprivation requires "positive economic solutions" and said: "We have the opportunity to change the whole socio-economic dynamic of Merthyr here."
Councillor Brent Carter called the scheme "ground-breaking" and a "complete game-changer for Merthyr Tydfil", adding the town "needs Rhydycar West".
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Skiers and snowboarders who enjoy riding mountains abroad can look forward to the 400m indoor ski slope in Wales
| GETTYHis colleague Lee Davies described it as a "once in a lifetime opportunity to put Merthyr Tydfil on the global map".
Councillor Julia Jenkins urged the community to "grab this opportunity with both hands", noting how Bike Park Wales has already brought so much to the region.
The planning journey wasn't entirely smooth sailing.
Welsh Government officials had initially directed the council to hold off on granting permission while ministers considered whether to take over the decision themselves.
In March 2025, the planning committee voted against recommendations to refuse the application.
Then, in November 2025, the council received word that Welsh ministers wouldn't be calling in the scheme after all.
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