A planning application has been submitted to Renfrewshire Council to change the vacant indoor ski slope at XSite Braehead to an e-karting facility.
The proposals also include plans for an associated bar/restaurant and e-sports area.
They have been put forward by Edinburgh-based firm Pritchett Planning Consultancy (PPC) on behalf of Braehead Leisure Partnership (BLP).
The original indoor ski slope at the King’s Inch Road site has been shut since 2022 and in October 2023 BLP announced it had taken the decision to close the facility permanently following a number of investigations into its viability.
Prior to BLP’s announcement in 2023, we reported that the winter sports site Snow Factor had closed within the centre "until further notice" amid legal proceedings after the former operator entered liquidation.
Tests then concluded that the ski slope was unviable and all of the snow and ice must be removed as soon as possible.
Concerns were raised at the time about the exceptionally high energy consumption required to maintain the snow within the ski slope.
In a letter dated May 8 to the council, Phil Pritchett, the director of PPC, said the facility shut due to "safety, ongoing maintenance, and repair considerations as well as the sustainability of operating a real snow indoor ski slope which requires 5900kwh of energy to run every day which is unsustainable."
He added that since the closure the owners have been “working hard to find a suitable occupier for this primary space within the centre.”
The proposed new e-karting offer would use the available ski slope space which would be reconfigured internally to create a track.
The ancillary space in the ski slope area would remain as part of the new leisure operation and would include a bar, catering and other associated leisure uses.
The application for full planning permission was validated by the council on Tuesday, May 15 and is currently awaiting decision.
