Plans for £13.8m snowsport centre approved by council

Plans for a £13.8m snowsport centre in Midlothian have been approved by councillors.

Funding for the proposed development of Midlothian Snowsport Centre at Hillend Country Park has already been approved by Midlothian Council, who is the applicant.

The plans will see the current site transformed into an all-weather leisure facility, with an alpine coaster, zipline and high ropes expected to be added to the attraction.

The centre, used by local schools as an educational centre as well as a public sports venue, will also add hotel accommodation, glamping sites, food courts and cafe facilities as part of the redevelopment.

A report to Midlothian Council’s planning committee this week said that the new development would create 80 full-time jobs, 30 with the council itself and 50 through third-party operators at the site.

It is hoped the project will be completed within the next two or three years.

Concerns over the traffic impact on the access route via the A702, the size of the development and local access had led Damhead Community Council to object to the plans, however it added it was supportive of much of the proposal.

A report by planning chiefs said the community council was willing to work with the council and other parties to find a solution to its concerns.

No other statutory consultants objected to the project and officers received three representations citing concerns over the scale of the development and its impact on the surrounding areas.

Planning officers recommended the committee grant planning permission in principle, with a wide range of conditions attached covering its development as it moves forward.

The committee unanimously supported the recommendation.

Reporting by Marie Sharp