Plans to redevelop Sheffield dry ski centre into a new outdoor sports facility are still happening, the latest commercial partner for the enterprise says.
Sheffield Ski village was, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the world’s largest dry slope centre by surface area, but the complex was largely destroyed by a series of arson attacks in 2012. In British freestyle competitive skiing is also legendary for launching the careers of a number of Britain’s top world-class skiers and boarders in the 2010s.
The site, still known to all as “the Ski Village” has since laid derelict for a decade and a half with various redevelopment plans coming forward, some involving reviving year-round snow sports, others not.
Apart from false dawns with previous possible commercial partners, the long delay has resulted from the council needing to clear ‘new age travellers’ from the site, fire fighters extinguishing more than 50 fires after the initial one, improve road access and even battle a Japanese knotweed. On the upside they secured nearly £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2023.
The most recent, first announced five years ago, is from New Zealand leisure firm Skyline Enterprises, is a little vague still on exactly what will be included in the plan but at other sites the company runs around the world luge runs and downhill karting tracks are signatures features. A zipline and a surf pool are also believed to be in the plans along with indoor facilities. A new dry ski slopes is reported to be “under consideration as a possible future phase.”
“Sheffield is seen as the ideal city for our next UK development. Our adventure and experience brand aligns perfectly with Sheffield’s renowned ‘Outdoor City’ ethos,” commented Geoff McDonald, CEO of Skyline Enterprises, who added, “We know that Parkwood Springs has been a challenging site to bring forward over the years, but with strong support from Sheffield City Council and an experienced project team on board, the pieces are now in place to deliver something truly special for the city.”
Public consultation on the project is expected to begin in September with Skyline Enterprises aiming to submit a planning application later this year.
A website for the development is now live at skylinesheffieldproject.co.uk where members of the public can also sign up via the website to receive project updates directly to their inbox and there’s also a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. .