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[2026] CBeebies Land Junior Coaster

I've spotted some interesting additional details in the planning docs, that might illuminate why the plans were changed and indication of some further actions that might need to occur before construction can begin.

At the same time as the amended plans were submitted, the Consultation Response SMDC Arboricultural Office was also uploaded to the system. This consultation relates to both the original and updated plans, and makes it pretty clear that the council requested changes to the original plans to protect the woodland characteristics of the site.

The original plans would have resulted in 66% of the trees on the site, with particular concern that the loss would have a dramatic effect on the park's woodland belt. The consultation refers to conversations with Alton Towers that resulted in the amended plans, which now only results in the loss of 21.5% of the trees in the site boundary. The consultation notes that some of the trees now slated for removal are more mature, but this is weighed out by saving an additional 29 trees.

The consultation report also reveals some of the planning conditions that are likely to be in place if the plans are approved. One of which is the relatively standard condition that 'There shall be no removal of any trees, shrubs or hedgerows during the bird nesting season (nominally March to August inclusive)'. There is a workaround available to this, so work theoretically could begin before August, but it would result in significant extra work on the part of the park and so might not be worth the additional resources.

Not least because the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal also recommends that further bat surveys will be required, a recommendation echoes by the SMDC Arboricultural Office. The recommendation states that at least two of these surveys should occur between May – August, so any construction would be contingent on the results of those surveys (and potential mitigations if they do find any roosts).

Based on what's in the documents, it seems increasingly likely we won't see construction start before September at the earliest. Obviously this is based on recommendations, so it is not guaranteed that these will form part of the permission, but it would be surprising if these conditions weren't adopted, as they are similar to those we saw on Horizon and Toxicator's permission.

Probably worth also saying that based on the actions of the council and park, it is now almost certain that these modified plans will be approved. So, short of some unexpected commercial reason cropping up at Merlin, we can be pretty confident at this point that Postman Pat Parcel Post will close this season.
 
Not directly related to the Bluey coaster, but I do have a good idea in how they could use the Postman Pat ride system in the future.

I’d love for the Postman Pat ride system to be relocated into the Justin’s House building, and potentially even have a little outdoor section where some of the Christmas stuff is now. I’ve just found out that Shaun the Sheep (who’s voiced by Justin Fletcher himself) is now on CBeebies, so that would be the perfect addition to CBeebies Land. As everyone knows Shaun the Sheep, and would be a nice throwback to when the area was Britannia Farm.

Imagine a tracked dark ride where you get to see the farmer, and Timmy (who previously had his own TV show), with a lot of sheep and the dog in the outdoor section.

It’s also a fairly evergreen IP, and would be a hit with Millennial parents who grew up with Wallace and Gromit. Shaun the Sheep also has potential to have his own show and meet and greets.
 
Not directly related to the Bluey coaster, but I do have a good idea in how they could use the Postman Pat ride system in the future.

I’d love for the Postman Pat ride system to be relocated into the Justin’s House building, and potentially even have a little outdoor section where some of the Christmas stuff is now. I’ve just found out that Shaun the Sheep (who’s voiced by Justin Fletcher himself) is now on CBeebies, so that would be the perfect addition to CBeebies Land. As everyone knows Shaun the Sheep, and would be a nice throwback to when the area was Britannia Farm.

Imagine a tracked dark ride where you get to see the farmer, and Timmy (who previously had his own TV show), with a lot of sheep and the dog in the outdoor section.

It’s also a fairly evergreen IP, and would be a hit with Millennial parents who grew up with Wallace and Gromit. Shaun the Sheep also has potential to have his own show and meet and greets.
I love the idea however I'd certainly be imagining that would be better outside of Cbeebies Land considering Shaun the Sheep has wider appeal and is aimed at slightly older children (much like Walliams World).

I'm also thinking that with Wallace and Gromit being at Pleasure Beach, would Merlin or the BBC have the rights or would it be Aardman and possibly Pleasure Beach?
 
I'm also thinking that with Wallace and Gromit being at Pleasure Beach, would Merlin or the BBC have the rights or would it be Aardman and possibly Pleasure Beach?
Pretty sure this would be a non-issue, Shaun the Sheep has had numerous attractions outside Pleasure Beach. In addition to Pleasure Beach already obtaining the Paw Patrol IP, yet Chessington has still managed to license it. Both IPs are relatively minor at Pleasure Beach other than meet and greets.

A fair few of the CBeebies Land IPs have presence in other attractions across the UK, so I doubt there’s much exclusivity other than the CBeebies IP itself also.
 
Pretty sure this would be a non-issue, Shaun the Sheep has had numerous attractions outside Pleasure Beach. In addition to Pleasure Beach already obtaining the Paw Patrol IP, yet Chessington has still managed to license it. Both IPs are relatively minor at Pleasure Beach other than meet and greets.

A fair few of the CBeebies Land IPs have presence in other attractions across the UK, so I doubt there’s much exclusivity other than the CBeebies IP itself also.
Remember as well, Alton had a Nicklodeon attraction before Pleasure Beach to so maybe it could work.
 
Pretty sure this would be a non-issue, Shaun the Sheep has had numerous attractions outside Pleasure Beach. In addition to Pleasure Beach already obtaining the Paw Patrol IP, yet Chessington has still managed to license it. Both IPs are relatively minor at Pleasure Beach other than meet and greets.

A fair few of the CBeebies Land IPs have presence in other attractions across the UK, so I doubt there’s much exclusivity other than the CBeebies IP itself also.
That is a fair point, I think the only thing would be that Shaun the Sheep would be under CBBC rather than Cbeebies. It's spin off, Timmy Time is Cbeebies.
 
Not directly related to the Bluey coaster, but I do have a good idea in how they could use the Postman Pat ride system in the future.

I’d love for the Postman Pat ride system to be relocated into the Justin’s House building, and potentially even have a little outdoor section where some of the Christmas stuff is now. I’ve just found out that Shaun the Sheep (who’s voiced by Justin Fletcher himself) is now on CBeebies, so that would be the perfect addition to CBeebies Land. As everyone knows Shaun the Sheep, and would be a nice throwback to when the area was Britannia Farm.

Imagine a tracked dark ride where you get to see the farmer, and Timmy (who previously had his own TV show), with a lot of sheep and the dog in the outdoor section.

It’s also a fairly evergreen IP, and would be a hit with Millennial parents who grew up with Wallace and Gromit. Shaun the Sheep also has potential to have his own show and meet and greets.

There is a large pit in the building so I doubt this would be viable.
 
Controversial question:

When this opens, in the modern world of enthusiasts being there to scramble every coaster opening like this, would it be appropriate to have a no-unaccompanied-adults policy for at least the first few weeks/months after opening on peak days and weekends (which can then be walked back once the “hype” has inevitably died down)?

Gives the families with young children, who
are the target for this after all, time to actually get on it. Personally I don’t mind this (I can happily wait a little while to get a kiddie cred if needs be), but curious what other people’s opinions are.
 
Controversial question:

When this opens, in the modern world of enthusiasts being there to scramble every coaster opening like this, would it be appropriate to have a no-unaccompanied-adults policy for at least the first few weeks/months after opening on peak days and weekends (which can then be walked back once the “hype” has inevitably died down)?

Gives the families with young children, who
are the target for this after all, time to actually get on it. Personally I don’t mind this (I can happily wait a little while to get a kiddie cred if needs be), but curious what other people’s opinions are.

I’d be surprised if other than opening day it would be a problem. The amount of unaccompanied adults wishing to ride beyond the social media types is likely very small. Paw Patrol at Chessington could be more problematic as that’s an entire land but again most adults generally aren’t going on young children’s rides except at Disney (and you could argue the rides are less children specific there anyway).
 
Controversial question:

When this opens, in the modern world of enthusiasts being there to scramble every coaster opening like this, would it be appropriate to have a no-unaccompanied-adults policy for at least the first few weeks/months after opening on peak days and weekends (which can then be walked back once the “hype” has inevitably died down)?

Gives the families with young children, who
are the target for this after all, time to actually get on it. Personally I don’t mind this (I can happily wait a little while to get a kiddie cred if needs be), but curious what other people’s opinions are.
I think we'd have to see what the impact was when Canada's Wonderland opened Snoopy's Racing Railway in it's first year.

I'd imagine that the IP would put off most adults without kids anyway. Most people would steer clear from Cbeebies Land without a child.
 
Standard queue management and it'll be fine. Towers seem to be able to sort it out pretty well thinking about Curse, Reebs and Toxicator opening days.
Isn’t there a worry about capacity though? If it’s something like a Vekoma family coaster then they’ve only generally got one train.
 
Isn’t there a worry about capacity though? If it’s something like a Vekoma family coaster then they’ve only generally got one train.
But they are designed to have 1 train so capacity isn't an issue they actually have more throughputs then a coaster designed to have 2 that run 1
 
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