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

[MaxPower]

Big difference is one had an accident and the other was way more expensive to operate

They're all expensive to operate, increasingly so as they get older.

I can't see Rita having that many years left personally.

 

[Jb85]

They're all expensive to operate, increasingly so as they get older.

I can't see Rita having that many years left personally.

Whilst I tend to agree with Rita, I think the park will keep it though until they turn their attention to DF.

I think it’s safe to say Galactica will see some treatment, as will X Sector. A few flats will come in I am sure, and maybe Horizon before they touch Rita I have no doubt.

I may be wrong.

 

[coastercoaster]

A few flats will come in I am sure

Based on recent history, only to replace others. For whatever reason they don't seem to appreciate that the lack of throughput is balanced by the ability to add a cheap new draw to the park and add to the feeling of value creating more repeat visitors.

 

[Jb85]

Based on recent history, only to replace others. For whatever reason they don't seem to appreciate that the lack of throughput is balanced by the ability to add a cheap new draw to the park and add to the feeling of value creating more repeat visitors.

I personally think that’s changing. Merlin see look to consolidate what they have and improve as opposed to rapid growth

 

[AT86]

So it appears project Horizon may still have life in it yet.

Towers have today submitted proposals to discharge two conditions of the planning approval, both of which were required before construction could start.

I doubt they would be bothering if they had scrapped the investment.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

 

[Hid]

So it appears project Horizon may still have life in it yet.

Towers have today submitted proposals to discharge two conditions of the planning approval, both of which were required before construction could start.

I doubt they would be bothering if they had scrapped the investment.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

So what are the two things discharged doesn't say in the application

 

[AT86]

So what are the two things discharged doesn't say in the application

13 and 19 here.

http://publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/portal/servlets/AttachmentShowServlet?ImageName=332112

 

[BarryZola]

They are these 2 numbers in the decision letter from what I can tell.

This is number 13:

The development hereby approved shall not commence (excepting works necessitated
to comply with this condition) until a remediation strategy to deal with the risks
associated with contamination of the site in respect of the development hereby
permitted, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning
authority. This strategy will include the following components:
a) A site investigation scheme to provide information for a detailed assessment of the
risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off-site.
b) The results of the site investigation and the detailed risk assessment referred to in (a)
and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy giving full details
of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken.
c) A verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to
demonstrate that the works set out in the remediation strategy in (b) are complete
and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages,
maintenance and arrangements for contingency action. Any changes to these
components require the written consent of the local planning authority. The scheme
shall be implemented as approved prior to the first operation of the attraction.

Reason:- To ensure that the development does not contribute to or is not put at
unacceptable risk from/adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of water pollution in
line with paragraph 174 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

This is number 19:

Prior to any ground works or excavation associated with the development hereby
approved, a Soils Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the
LPA that has due regard to stripping and reserving existing soils or other material from
the existing areas prior to spreading at agreed locations on the wider resort. The
submitted soils plan shall include information regarding the reservation and storage of
the existing soils on the proposed spreading areas. Spreading areas will require their
existing topsoil cover to be stripped, reserved, temporarily stored and re-laid in
accordance with the DEFRA Construction Code of Practice for Sustainable Use of Soils
on Construction Sites. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the
approved plan.

Reason:- In order to control the spreading of soils throughout the wider Alton Towers
Resort an to ensure that planted areas are effectively protected from inappropriately
located spreading of spoil and to further protect against any impacts on the registered
garden or other heritage asset.

 

[Skyscraper]

So it appears project Horizon may still have life in it yet.

Towers have today submitted proposals to discharge two conditions of the planning approval, both of which were required before construction could start.

I doubt they would be bothering if they had scrapped the investment.

Planning Application - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

How to make a comment, support, or object to, an application.

publicaccess.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

I may be clutching at straws here, but could they be trying to speed up the process of starting construction in the wake of the recent David Walliams news? As others have said recently, PH and TWoDW/CCL could be combined into one area.

 

[Steve74]

In my naivety when it comes to planning speak, I thought "discharge" meant they wanted to get those conditions removed. It actually means they want to submit to the council the information that these 2 conditions require so they can be signed off as completed. So it does look like things may be beginning to happen.

Of course, this information couldn't have been gathered at very short notice, but I do wonder if they already had the information ready but have never submitted it due to PH being postponed and the news about David Walliams has made them decide to submit it and start things moving? Could be clutching at straws, but you hear nothing about PH for months on end, then the first working day after the news about DW breaks, planning docs for the area near TWODW are submitted!

Also I got Copilot to summarise the 2 points that @BarryZola quoted above:

Point 13:
You’re not allowed to start the development until you submit a plan explaining how you will deal with any contamination on the site, and the council has approved it in writing. Your plan must include:

1. A site investigation – tests and checks to understand what contamination is present and who or what it could harm (including people or land outside the site).
2. A detailed report – showing the investigation results, the risks found, and a full plan for how you will clean up the contamination and carry out the work.
3. A verification plan – explaining what evidence you will collect to prove the clean‑up has been done properly, plus details of any long‑term monitoring or backup actions if problems appear later.

You must follow the approved plan before the attraction can open. Any changes to the plan must be agreed in writing by the council.

Reason:
This is to make sure the development does not cause, or suffer from, harmful levels of water pollution, in line with national planning policy.


Point 19:
Before any digging or ground works can start, you must submit a Soils Management Plan to the council and get written approval. The plan must show:

• How you will strip and save the existing soil before moving it to agreed areas around the resort.
• How the soil will be stored and protected before it is spread.
• That any areas where soil will be spread will first have their topsoil removed, stored, and then put back following DEFRA’s rules for using soil on construction sites.

All work must follow the approved plan.

Reason:
This is to make sure soil is moved and used properly across the resort, to protect planted areas, and to avoid harming the registered garden or other heritage features.

 

[Steve74]

I may be clutching at straws here, but could they be trying to speed up the process of starting construction in the wake of the recent David Walliams news? As others have said recently, PH and TWoDW/CCL could be combined into one area.

Beat me to it - see my post!

 

[Dobba]

If you heard a series of loud bangs it was the YouTube comp faces, who knew for certain that this project was dead, punching the nearest wall

 

[Skyscraper]

Beat me to it - see my post!

Great minds think alike, eh!

 

[AT86]

There is no way they have signed off a multi million pound investment in one working day based on the recent David Walliams news, this will just be a coincidence of timing.

 

[Blackrock]

The deadline was fast approaching anyway wasn’t it?

 

[Skyscraper]

The deadline was fast approaching anyway wasn’t it?

Indeed, June 2026.

 

[Leigh]

There is no way they have signed off a multi million pound investment in one working day based on the recent David Walliams news, this will just be a coincidence of timing.

No, but they could at short notice have decided to bring certain decisions forward. If they do decide to go ahead, having this stuff submitted (especially considering it’s at low/no cost to Merlin since it was probably already done) at least shortens the timeline.

 

[Squiggs]

This won't have anything to do with David Walliams, if this has appeared on the council's website today the paper work will have been submitted some time ago, almost certainly before the recent news came out.

The chances are Merlin won't have made any decisions about how to respond to the David Walliams situation yet, if they've even started to discuss it.

 

[Steve74]

This won't have anything to do with David Walliams, if this has appeared on the council's website today the paper work will have been submitted some time ago, almost certainly before the recent news came out.

The chances are Merlin won't have made any decisions about how to respond to the David Walliams situation yet, if they've even started to discuss it.

There's always one that has to spoil our fun

 

[QTXAdsy]

This won't have anything to do with David Walliams, if this has appeared on the council's website today the paper work will have been submitted some time ago, almost certainly before the recent news came out.

The chances are Merlin won't have made any decisions about how to respond to the David Walliams situation yet, if they've even started to discuss it.

Either way, it is a hell of a coincidence that both these things seem to happen at once.

Either way, it wouldn't suprise me that the recent Walliams situation could be used as a excuse to upper management as to why PH should happen. That said, I could see TWODW or at least half the area being closed for next season, so in truth that area of the park could likely being seeing something happening there.