[202X] Project Horizon (SW9?): Planning Approved

[BennyBoy]

Do we think an Intamin multi dimension coaster is possible with the total budget at £12.5 million?

 

[Dave]

Do we think an Intamin multi dimension coaster is possible with the total budget at £12.5 million?

Depends how you define budget.

The idea that the Minecraft project is costing £50 million on hardware is nonsense. A lot of that quoted figure is likely the global IP cost. Hardware will be much lower.

In the planning docs for Horizon I suspect they were quoting hardware costs, that said it’s been a few years so inflation will likely push the budget up a bit.

 

[QTXAdsy]

Let's not forget that even in the short time since Horizon was announced to now construction costs have gone up so more than likely £12 million figure has gone up a bit too.

 

[Matt N]

That’s also before we bring in the possibility I mentioned earlier that the ride inside the building could have completely changed since we first saw the plans in 2022.

That would almost certainly change the cost!

 

[Dave]

That’s also before we bring in the possibility I mentioned earlier that the ride inside the building could have completely changed since we first saw the plans in 2022.

That would almost certainly change the cost!

I’m not 100% certain they knew what rollercoaster they were putting in back in 2022. I have two thoughts on the whole project (just thoughts not definites).

1) They thought planning permission would take longer to get, I reckon they thought they would have a battle so just bid for as big a metal box as they thought they might get away with. So I don’t think we can take any clues from the plans as to the coasters layout.

2) 3 leadership changes has created havoc with the actual project. Plus latest Merlin management don’t seem to have much of a strategy for Towers. They seem much more focused on Chessington.