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Long term development plan

Scott

Former TS Team Member
Favourite Ride
Nemesis
After a brief discussion within the 2014 Accomodation thread, I have been having a quick look at some off the LDTP documents which Aly linked to at:

http://www.altontowersheritage.com/development/article.asp?articleid=146

They are really interesting and I haven't had time to digest them all as a certain element of the Transport plan caught my eye. It was explaining why certain years have had increased admissions compared to the ones around them... And also offered reasons why certain future years would see increased admissions too (leading to the target of 3.3m per year in 2019)

As shown in Figure 7.2, previous and planned investments at the Park give rise to certain changes in demand. The previous and proposed major investments at the park during the period identified are as follows:
1) „Air‟ opened during 2002;
2) Changed ownership at the end of 2007 resulted in proactive marketing;
3) Replacement of the „Corkscrew‟ coaster (opening of TH13TEEN coaster) and extended opening hours during 2010;
4) New roller coaster during 2013;
5) Large indoor ride during 2016;
6) Replacement thrill ride and potential third hotel during 2018; and
7) New large coaster and indoor attraction during 2019.

If this plan is anywhere near accurate (and I see no reason for it not to be as it goes on about the lodges and possible ATH hotel as well as describing other planned and implemented investments) then it is very exciting stuff!
 
I have just been reading through the same document and this caught my eye
Two large attractions/rides are likely to be developed in 2016 and 2019 (one of which may include a ride across the valley between UG Land to the Forbidden Valley)

Interestingly the only difference on the LTDP map vs the MTDP map is a purple line across the valley :)
 
Yeah the LTDP portrays an exciting future for Alton Towers Resort. All the documents are worth a read (even if there is several hours worth). It gives you a great insight and understanding into some of the plans and how they come to certain decisions, like around not implementing the bypass road etc.
 
As I won't get chance to read them all just yet can anyone that has tell me if there is anything about moving the park entrance? I want to see exactly what they say on the matter but could do with a point in the right direction :)
 
In the 2015-2019 section it says
The internal circulation plan for the Resort could be changed through the creation of a new Theme Park entrance to the east of the Duel. This would allow for the potential future development of the existing entrance buildings and shops and administrative offices on Towers Street.
 
The cross-valley development sounds interesting. Could we be getting that woodie that's been talked about for years? I hope so! :D

The major indoor attraction for 2016 has grabbed my attention the most - mainly where it could be situated. There's the Air car park, but that's most likely going to be used for the 2019 coaster, so that leads me to think that they might have it in the Dark Forest, as it's crying out for another ride of some description, but the 2019 coaster may be the cross-valley one. There's also Coaster Corner, but that might not go down too well with residents of Alton village.

Wherever they're going to build stuff, the future for Towers is certainly looking bright! :D
 
Interestingly, it sounds like SW8 (the Air car-park B&M) has been pushed back a few years from 2016 to 2019. No major coasters for 6 years though...? Risky!

I wonder where this 'large indoor ride' will be going, hopefully a replacement for Duel. :)
 
Tim said:
As I won't get chance to read them all just yet can anyone that has tell me if there is anything about moving the park entrance? I want to see exactly what they say on the matter but could do with a point in the right direction :)
http://www.altontowersheritage.com/public/attachments/00.%20Long%20Term%20Plan%20Summary%20Report.pdf

Page 32:

Years 2015-2019

The internal circulation plan for the Resort could be changed through the creation of a new Theme Park entrance to the east of the Duel. This would allow for the potential future development of the existing entrance buildings and shops and administrative offices on Towers Street.

This is further to:

A number of existing rides would require replacement as they reach the end of their planned lives. This is likely to include Ripsaw, the Flume and Blade. In addition two large attractions/rides are likely to be developed in 2016 and 2019 (one of which may include a ride across the valley between UG Land to the Forbidden Valley) resulting in approximately six new or replacement medium to large attractions.

In the second phase of the Long Term Plan the connection between the existing hotel area and the Theme Park would be reinforced with indoor and outdoor attractions. This would enable the development of a fully integrated Resort attraction.

And also from 2010-2014:

Other major ride opportunities would be promoted in the following locations: to the east of Nemesis, to the east of Air and to the west of Cloud Cuckoo Land (utilising land available from the consolidation and relocation of servicing areas and the waste and recycling centre on land east of the Duel ride).
 
Other major ride opportunities would be promoted in the following locations: to the east of Nemesis, to the east of Air and to the west of Cloud Cuckoo Land (utilising land available from the consolidation and relocation of servicing areas and the waste and recycling centre on land east of the Duel ride).

Presumably this is Sub-Terra? I can't really work out which way is east. Glad to see that the list of planned removals over the next decade (Blade, Flume, Rippy) doesn't include any nasty surprises! :)
 
Sam said:
Other major ride opportunities would be promoted in the following locations: to the east of Nemesis, to the east of Air and to the west of Cloud Cuckoo Land (utilising land available from the consolidation and relocation of servicing areas and the waste and recycling centre on land east of the Duel ride).

Presumably this is Sub-Terra? I can't really work out which way is east. Glad to see that the list of planned removals over the next decade (Blade, Flume, Rippy) doesn't include any nasty surprises! :)

Sub-Terra is West of Nemesis... The Car Parks/Ticket Barriers fall to the East :)
 
I'm confused, when did this plan appear? The development plan proposed in 2009 was well advertised to be happening, but this suddenly one seemed to appear quite stealthily
 
EuroSatch said:
I'm confused, when did this plan appear? The development plan proposed in 2009 was well advertised to be happening, but this suddenly one seemed to appear quite stealthily

The documents are dated as August 2012. I think they were made available online in September. Quite strange how this has slipped under the radar though!
 
Sam said:
Interestingly, it sounds like SW8 (the Air car-park B&M) has been pushed back a few years from 2016 to 2019. No major coasters for 6 years though...? Risky!

I wonder where this 'large indoor ride' will be going, hopefully a replacement for Duel. :)

No Air car-park B&M till 2019 could be risky. Although I believe SW8 will be the 'large indoor ride', given that context it screams to me either a Charlie or Duel removal and replacement. Given the size of those attractions the dark ride would be huge. Alton Towers have made it clear too that a Secret Weapon doesn't have to be a roller coaster.

It is quite interesting that the Air car-park B&M has been pushed back so far, especially considering it was originally planned for 2013! Whatever Wardley, Candy, B&M and co. have got planned, it must be a good one! I still think it's something to do with this (taken from the Wardley Interview on TTF in 2010):
Q19

mattbailey asked:

Seeing as different coaster types seem to have popularity phases, what do you think is the next "big thing" in coaster design?

Merlin Studios are working on that …. And I’m honoured to be involved!

I could be putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5. But I believe if Merlin Studios were working on creating the 'next big thing', Alton Towers would be the place to build such an innovative ride.
 
5) Large indoor ride during 2016;
6) Replacement thrill ride and potential third hotel during 2018; and
7) New large coaster and indoor attraction during 2019.

These are very interesting. Large indoor ride, I think we could be seeing that on coaster corner.

3rd hotel, well we know from the lodges they have the room. Replacement thrill ride, this really could be anything but i suspect submission / enterprise could go.

New large coaster, could be the cross valley coaster, could be on Air carpark. Although i feel this may be scrapped? Who knows. The indoor attraction for 2019 could be anything

Very exciting!
 
James said:
EuroSatch said:
I'm confused, when did this plan appear? The development plan proposed in 2009 was well advertised to be happening, but this suddenly one seemed to appear quite stealthily

The documents are dated as August 2012. I think they were made available online in September. Quite strange how this has slipped under the radar though!
Just updating this. Most of the documents are in fact dated all different, ranging from 2009 to 2012. So most of it has been available since 2009, only a few little bits here and there are new in the 2012 documents. Overall though not a lot of it is new stuff. Most is stuff we already know.




I'm just reading through the LTDP at the moment. Some very interesting things which have caught my eye.

Alton Towers Resort proposes to remove the Spinning Coaster ride in the second phase of the Long Term Plan and agree with the Council, via a s106 agreement or undertaking, to limit development on the existing Adventureland (Sonic Spinball) GDO area to rides and other structures not exceeding 5m in height. This initiative would materially improve the setting of the Towers and the registered garden and would prevent any future large scale rides on this site (permitted at present to 25m under the GDO).
Not only could we be saying goodbye to Spinball forever by 2019, beyond that we will never see such a large ride/attraction appear on that site, improving the overall view from Towers Street. I think this is fantastic news! Many people have moaned over the years at Sonic being an eyesore, knowing that when it does go Alton plan to not add anything high in that area is great news and I am for one happy they've taken that decision. Spinball has never worked well with the overall 'image' of Alton Towers.

A medium investment development option which includes several new rides, investment in refreshing existing themed areas as well as a 3/4* hotel and lodges would produce a large rise in visitor numbers and significant local economic benefits and also increase stays in local visitor accommodation.
Note on '3/4* hotel'. This shows that Alton Towers would consider adding a 4* hotel. Which I'd prefer actually. Casino theme perhaps? They could then aim it more at the higher up/adult market, which Alton Towers could really do with, a quieter place for the adults and older families.

Interestingly, one of the accommodation plans for the first phase included the Alton Towers Hotel extension. It ties in well with the planning permission in 2011 for the time application of the hotel extension to be extended. Although it seems that the hotel extension will now not happen with the lodges being the chosen development for phase one.

The 'Landscape and Visual Impact' document also reveals that the field next to the Alton Towers hotel is intended to (possibly) be the site of a hotel development, and the document confirms the site of the lodges. So if/when a third hotel is on the way, it will certainly be right next to the Alton Towers Hotel.

The cross-valley ride is still on the board too. Despite Alton Towers saying it would be unlikely, it looks like it's still an consideration. The 'Landscape and Visual Impact' document reveals a little more:
A new Cross Valley Ride has been identified which makes use of Alton Towers natural topography. The preferred location for the cross valley ride spans from UG Land to the Forbidden Valley. The ride would have high points at the height of the tree canopy and uses the contours of the valley to create the required velocity but predominantly follows the floor of the valley between existing trees.

and a little more:

The cross valley ride location will have the following standard height parameters
given in metres above Ordnance Datum
• A high point at the UG Land (west) side of the valley 201m AOD;
• A camel back feature of 162m AOD to the west of the centre of the valley; and,
• A high point of 173m at the Forbidden Valley (east) side of the valley

If anyone wants a laugh, read the 'screaming and shouting' section of the Noise Report. Makes for a fun read, I've laughed a few times at how it's written.
 
While I'm the first person to not worry about upsetting big business, I do think that this statement has been overlooked:

"The information included in this document has been prepared solely for the purpose of assisting the local
planning authority in its considerations of the proposals for a Long Term Plan at the Alton Towers Resort. This information may not be relied upon by any person or used for any purpose other than for which it was submitted. While reasonable steps have been taken in good faith to determine the accuracy of the information, no warranty or representation as to its accuracy is given by any persons."

I think that some caution with regards to using the information is advised, because the statement means that you could be leaving yourself open to angry approaches from the park and also these future development plans have been shown to be widely inaccurate in relation to actual future events in many cases.
 
Sorry if I'm being thick here, but if these plans are new, why do they mention UgLand? Is it an old plan that has since been updated by Merlin but they've forgotten to replace 'UgLand' with 'Dark Forest' or are these just old plans?

I haven't read through them yet, just the comments on here, so I guess that doesn't help me either. :p
 
Some are dated from 2009 while others are from August this year. Presumably some have been updated without having references to UG Land being changed.


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It looks like a bit of a hash-up of older planning documents, I'd take everything contained within it with a pinch of salt.
 
If a cross-valley coaster is built, it won't be a woodie. Too loud, with too dense a structure, and we already know Merlin don't like them. It'll be a B&M or Intamin hyper, with a support structure designed to minimise tree loss.

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