The Snow Centre is coming to Swindon

The operators of The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead are adding a second facility to their portfolio with new slopes in Swindon  

Full planning consent has now been approved for the construction of 15,800 square metres of indoor snow space within Swindon’s North Star Leisure Complex, due to open in 2020. The brand new snow centre will feature two indoor snow slopes with real snow; a 170m main slope, 75m lesson slope, and a designated fun zone for sledging and snow play. 

Like its sister site, The Snow Centre Swindon will offer lessons and lift passes for kids and adults looking to master their skills on 1 plank or 2. The slope will be part of a 500,000 sq ft leisure, dining and retail destination which will also have trampoline park, gym and other facilities. The £270m project is lead by property development and investment company SevenCapital. Once complete, the centre will become the UK’s seventh indoor skiing facility and the first new real snow slope the UK has seen since The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead opened its doors in May 2009.

John Watkins, director at SevenCapital said: “We’re thrilled with the decision to grant full planning approval for the North Star Village. Since taking on the project in July 2017 the team has worked tirelessly to deliver on our promises to submit plans for an exciting regional leisure and retail destination that Swindon and the wider UK will benefit from significantly."

The Snow Centre MD Ian Brown added: “We are delighted to be able to open a second real snow indoor slope and look forward to building on the success we’ve seen at our existing centre in Hemel Hempstead.”

Olympic Snowboarder Jamie Nicholls attended the planning committee meeting on Tuesday 27 November and supports the development. He said: “This is an amazing opportunity for even more people to get into snowsports. It will give those living in the South West of England; Swindon, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and beyond the chance to get into skiing or snowboarding. I can’t wait to hit the slopes in Swindon with the next generation of snowsports talent.”

The Snow Centre at Hemel Hempstead is London’s closest real snow indoor skiing and snowboarding destination. One of our staff writers is currently taking lessons there. Find out how quickly you can learn the basics in her blog about learning to snowboard.