A newly updated Long Term Development Plan, showing the direction that the Alton Towers Resort will take in the coming years, has recently been made available online. With hints at what attractions may be removed between now and 2019 and areas of potential development, the report contains some interesting information.
The purpose of the LTDP is to give Staffordshire Moorlands Council an idea of what developments will happen at the Alton Towers Resort in the coming years. The plan outlines new attractions as well as future conservation and heritage projects.
The plan outlines the core strategy on what the resort would like to improve between now and 2019 and some of these are: Increase overnight stays, add some major rides, refresh existing areas, develop a year-round destination, etc.
Alton Towers have looked at 4 different investment options: No investment, low investment, medium investment and high investment. The decision has been made to go for a medium investment strategy.
The medium investment strategy has improvements to the Resort such as: new car parking, new entertainment areas, new rides and refreshment of existing themed areas. An extension to the Alton Towers Hotel is being considered, as well as log cabins (which planning is currently being sought for) or a 3rd hotel.
The following table, taken from the LTDP shows how the medium investment option makes less sense commercially than a high investment strategy, but there are greater improvements in terms of heritage, conservation and not as much visual intrusion that is linked with larger rides.
The LTDP splits development between the short-term (2010-2014) and the medium-term (2015-2019) Some short-term investments have already taken place.
Phase 1: 2010-2014
Car Parking/Access: Landscaped car parking “cells”. Commencement of works to relocate car parking from the Air car-park to other areas. The improvements to car parking would happen in phases as other areas of the plan are implemented.
New rides and entertainment areas: Areas for development include the east of Nemesis, the east of Air and the west of Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Overnight accommodation: One of the major improvements would be the addition of a campsite village, which was discussed on TowersStreet news earlier this week, but also under consideration is the Alton Towers Hotel extension and a 3rd hotel.
Heritage Investment: Phased restoration of the garden conservatory, prevention of collapse of the ruined areas of the towers, restoration of the gothic prospect tower, etc.
Phase 2: 2015-2019
Car Parking/Access: Continued phased introduced of car parking “cells” and a new theme park entrance to the east of Duel is being considered.
New rides and entertainment areas: A number of rides are being considered to be removed as they reach the end of their lives, these include The Flume, Ripsaw and Blade. Two large attractions are being considered for 2016 and 2019 with one possibly being a ride across the valley between Dark Forest and Forbidden Valley. In addition to these 2 additions there will be another 4 new replacement attractions. A connection between the resort and the theme park will also be considered by developing a “fully integrated resort attraction”.
This second phase of the LTDP would also include proposed changes to the previously agreed general planning area. This would mean the removal of Sonic Spinball and no large rides above 5m being built in that area of the park.
You can find all the documents relating to the LTDP on the Alton Towers Heritage website.
What do you think the future holds for the Alton Towers Resort? Discuss the Long Term Development Plan on TowersStreet Talk!
