Scarborough Flamingo Land Coast

[Mi-Nigle]

This popped up on BBC News, haven't heard about it before, has anyone else?

Designs for a new attraction on the site of a former seaside theatre have been unveiled.

Dubbed Flamingo Land Coast, the entertainment complex is due to be built on the site of Scarborough's Futurist theatre.

Designs include a 60m-high "Cliffhanger" ride, a rollercoaster, and a four-storey building housing restaurants and play areas.

Scarborough Borough Council said it was "delighted" at the initial plans.

The Futurist opened in 1921 and hosted many artists - including, most famously, The Beatles in 1963 - but closed in 2014.

Scarborough Council has asked for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be carried out as part of the application, the Local Democracy Reporting Servicesays.

A public consultation will be held on the plans.

Feedback and suggestions will then be used to "help shape the full planning application" before it is submitted to the council.

Gordon Gibb, Flamingo Land's chief executive, said: "Flamingo Land is very much committed to creating a new, exciting family attraction in Scarborough and we are looking forward to sharing these plans with the public."

The Ryedale-based firm said added that talks are taking place with ride manufacturers and specialist engineers are assessing the safety and installation aspects of what it says will be "a cutting-edge and unique attraction, should planning permission be granted".

Conservative councillor Derek Bastiman, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council, added: "We are delighted that Flamingo Land has submitted its screening report and revealed its initial, exciting plans for Flamingo Land Coast.

Scarborough Council demolished the former Futurist theatre at a cost of more than £4m.

A small footprint for two buildings and an outdoor coaster.

 

[rob666]

Yup, been talked about for a couple of years at least, backed by Flamingoland.
Old Futurist promenade theatre site, with a few extra bits.
Think the coaster is only a kiddie/junior family one.
Scarborough needs something though!
Edit...flamingoland discussion August 2016.

 

[Robert.W]

Um.. I think they need to sort out their current location before they go building another attraction me thinks.

 

[Craig]

It's been a while since I've been up to Scarborough - the last time I was down there they were still removing the god awful facade on The Futurist before getting rid of the building itself. Such a shame that facade was on in the first place, as the building underneath it was stunning. But anyway, looking at Google Maps, I was surprised at how large of an area is left:

The plans are a screening opinion request at the moment, to determine whether a full environmental impact assessment is required. However, this does still give us some details of what's going in there:

• Ground Floor: Shops, cafe, junior play attraction and toilets
• First Floor: Event space, F+B, retail and attraction space. Then the 60m drop tower called Cliffhanger on the plans (novel name eh?). There's also a deck out the back which leads over to over to the aviary/winter garden building on the left
• Second Floor: An education and events area leading to a bridge over to the aviary/winter garden. There's also a further F+B area.
• Third Floor: Station for the family coaster on the left hand side, with a further events/attraction space on the right. The lift hill would utilise the hill at the back of the site.

As well as the stuff above, the application also refers to possible other attractions:

• Educational 4D dark ride which would simulate a journey around the coastline.
• A zip wire
• A live actor attraction that would explain the history of the site
• Rope courses and crazy golf
• Restaurant featuring local produce and (TST's second favourite past time) Scarborough brewed ale.

It's an interesting concept, and I'd love to see them pull it off. The focus on education is likely a way to pull in local schools in the quieter months/weekdays to keep the place going. Really hope they pull it off, that area has been an eyesore for too long now.

 

[Skyscraper]

Just imagine the views from the top of the shot tower!