Wales — It sounds like a new massive ski resort is coming to the U.K.
TimeOut reports that the Rhydycar West development has been approved by two critical sources. The Welsh government approved the plans in November 2025, and Merthyr Tydfil council gave the plans the thumbs-up last week.
If built, the £300 million (around $403 million) Rhydycar West would feature an indoor ski centre, an indoor water park, an adventure centre (which would have climbing walls and ziplines), a spa, various accommodation options, and convention spaces. It would make the sleepy town of Merthyr Tydfil into a vacation destination. Currently, the town is known as the gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park, but it needs further development to grow its economy.
The Skiing
For skiers, the part we care about is the indoor facility, although the spa does sound relaxing. If built, it would be the largest indoor ski resort in the UK and Europe. The main slope is expected to be 400 meters long (around .25 miles), so it wouldn’t quite be the world’s biggest indoor ski resort. That honor goes to Qianhai Huafa Snow World in Shenzhen, China.
The site is expected to become the official training grounds for the U.K.’s Winter Olympic and Paralympic teams. The plan is to have it set to FIS Standards.
“I’m absolutely delighted that Rhydycar West has been awarded outline planning permission. This is a game-changing moment for British snowsport,” said Vicky Gosling, the chief executive of GB Snowsport. “We’ve already shown that the UK can compete, and win on the world stage, but having world-class, home-based facilities will elevate our potential even further. The proposed indoor snow centre at Rhydycar West represents a huge opportunity to support and accelerate our current and future talent, giving athletes the elite training environment they need right here at home. It’s an exciting milestone.”
Ultimately, this approval has been a long time coming. The project was first proposed back in 2012, which was when the world was supposed to end. According to Wales Online, the goal is to start construction in 2027 and open the complex in 2030.
We’ll see if this project comes to life, as we’ve seen some indoor ski resorts in the States get delayed or become stuck in limbo.
Image/Video Credits: Rhydycar West
