Valley Ridge (Winter sports resort) facts for kids
Location of Valley Ridge (marked as SnOasis)
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| Location | Great Blakenham |
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| Proposer | Valley Ridge Holdings |
| Cost estimate | £500m |
Valley Ridge (once called SnOasis) is a big new sports and holiday resort planned for Great Blakenham, a village near Ipswich in Suffolk, England. It's hoped to open in 2024.
The idea is to build a fun place with a huge indoor ski slope and a cool water park. This project is expected to cost around £500 million.
Contents
What is Valley Ridge?
Valley Ridge is designed to be a fantastic holiday spot for families. It will have lots of things to do, including:
- Indoor winter sports facilities, like a ski slope.
- A water park for splashing fun.
- Places for outdoor adventures.
- Self-catering places to stay.
- A large hotel with 450 rooms.
- Shops and restaurants.
The main ski slope is planned to be 180 metres long. This will be a great place to learn to ski or snowboard, or just have fun in the snow!
How Many Visitors?
The people behind Valley Ridge expect about 975,000 visitors every year. A big part of these visitors, around 428,000, will stay overnight at the resort.
There will also be plenty of parking, with up to 2500 spaces available.
New Jobs for the Area
The developers believe that Valley Ridge will create about 1800 direct jobs. This means lots of new work opportunities for people living nearby.
Project History
The idea for a ski resort in this area started way back in 2001. The land was bought, and plans were first submitted in 2004.
Local permission was given in 2006. After a public review, the government finally approved the plans in 2008.
In April 2020, the local council gave permission for the project to go ahead again. Later that year, new people took over the project and renamed it Valley Ridge.
In March 2021, they shared their updated plans. These new plans focus more on being a family-friendly holiday park.
Concerns About the Project
Like many big projects, Valley Ridge has faced some concerns from local people and groups.
Traffic Worries
Some local residents were worried about how much traffic the resort might bring. They thought the roads, especially the Copdock Roundabout where the A12 and A14 meet, might get too busy.
They were also concerned that cars might try to find shortcuts through smaller villages like Sproughton. The developers have offered to help pay for road improvements to ease these worries.
Protecting Nature
Part of the land where Valley Ridge is planned is a special area for wildlife. It's home to protected animals like great crested newts and badgers.
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust, a group that protects nature, was worried that building the resort would harm the local wildlife. They felt it would cause a "significant loss to biodiversity," meaning many different types of plants and animals could be affected.
Natural England, another important nature group, also had concerns about protecting the newts.
Keeping the Area Peaceful
Some people felt that such a large resort would change the quiet, rural feel of the area. They worried about more noise, air pollution, and light pollution, which could make the area less peaceful.
However, the developers plan to plant 140,000 trees across 40 acres. This could help make the area greener and more pleasant.
Climate Change Concerns
A group called sNOasis Concern was worried about the environmental impact. They estimated that the old plans for the resort could create a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to climate change.
They felt that the planned woodland would only cover a small part of these emissions. The developers have said they plan to get 75% of their energy from renewable sources, like burning woodchips. They also plan to plant 130,000 trees to help absorb CO2 from the air.
