Could UK ski slope make a comeback… at last?

Since the fire in April 2012 that forced Sheffield Ski Village to close down, the dry slope has fallen victim to repeated vandalism, fly-tipping and arson, leaving the Parkwood Springs site looking tired and neglected.

Plans to regenerate Parkwood Springs

After several false starts to revive the area, plans for the regeneration of Parkwood Springs appear to have taken a step forward.

New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises is working alongside Sheffield City Council on proposals that could breathe new life into what was one of the UK’s most iconic ski locations.

Could skiing return to Sheffield?

For those who learnt their turns on the famous Sheffield slopes, the possibility of skiing and snowboarding returning to Parkwood Springs is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the proposals.

The original Sheffield Ski Village, which opened in 1988 and became Europe’s largest artificial ski resort, introduced generations of people to snow sports and helped produce a number of talented athletes.

More than just skiing

Skyline Enterprises, who are specialists in developing adventure tourism destinations, are understood to be exploring a broad vision for the site. Alongside potential ski facilities, plans are expected to include a range of year-round outdoor attractions including mountain biking, walking and cycling trails, a zipline, luge and improved public spaces and family-friendly visitor facilities.

The regeneration programme could get £19 million of government funding, part of which would go towards creating an improved access by linking roads around the site

A new future for Sheffield Ski Village

Sheffield City Council’s ambition is to transform Parkwood Springs into a flagship outdoor recreation destination. If Skyline’s proposals come to fruition, visitors will be met with activities and adventure for all the family rather than burnt-out abandoned buildings and decaying ski matting.

After years of false starts and disappointment, there is still work to do before diggers arrive on site. Planning, infrastructure and detailed design all lie ahead. Yet for the first time in many years, there appears to be genuine momentum behind regenerating the Sheffield Ski Village site.