It's set to be a "world-class leisure resort" fit for Olympic athletes. If successful, the Rhydycar West project would see the UK's largest indoor ski slope, a huge tropical waterpark and a number of hotels built in Merthyr Tydfil.
And with plans for the project due to be submitted to the council in January 2023, it's one step closer to becoming a reality. The 575-acre site, located just off the A470 via Rhydycar Roundabout, is owned by Marvel Limited and the plan is to make it one of the premier tourist destinations in the UK. It is hoped to create around 1600 jobs in the construction phase, and around 500 employment opportunities once operational.
Original plans priced the scheme at roughly £150m, although that figure is now set to double to circa £300m. You can read more about the development plans here.
With the Rhydycar West project now poised to enter the planning process at Merthyr Tydfil council, WalesOnline visited the town to see what locals think about having a "world-class leisure resort" on their doorstep. The majority of residents who stopped to speak thought it would be a fantastic addition to the area. However, a few questioned the project's cost as well as its impact on traffic and the local area. We put these questions to Marvel LTD.
Chris Jones runs Bakestones bakery at Merthyr Tydfil market in the town centre. The 46-year-old said he hopes the project will go ahead and bring much needed footfall back into the town centre.
He said: "I think it's a good idea. If they do get planning permission for it, it would be great for the business and for the whole south Wales Valleys altogether. I hope it means it will pick up and will bring more holiday makers and customers here.
"Things have been terrible here recently with Shaws and Wikinsons shutting. The town centre is in a terrible mess at the moment. It started before Covid, but Covid was the final nail in the coffin really. Some days it gets busier.
"In the old days you'd have Tuesday at the market and it would be busy on a Saturday - but you can't tell how it's going to be these days, especially with the out of town retail park. There's nothing to come to the town for now other than the market. If it wasn't for the college students, it would be dead here today (Monday, January 9).
"It definitely sounds like a good idea. Trago Mills was in the works for years and years and years, so with any luck, touch wood this may take a while but I hope it does come and it will be good for the town centre."
Gareth Davies from Rhymney co-runs Scentury Scents at the market. The 26-year-old said he welcomes the plan, but would like to see more investment in projects for young people in the valleys.
He said: "The idea of building the largest ski slope is bound to attract somebody in the same way a big tourist attraction like Caerphilly Castle brings in hundreds of international students. I live in Rhymney and there's a lot of houses but there's not a lot of things to do and there are a lot of drug issues there.
"I get stones thrown at my house because the kids don't have enough to do. You can build the project and people will come, but the people here need to have something to do. However, I think it would be a good addition to build the area's repertoire. The nearest winter activity I can think to do would be the ice rink in Cardiff.
"An influx of money is always going to bring more people, the amount of tourists will drastically increase the amount of people - it might even increase opportunities. There's a good possibility of an increase of people coming into Merthyr market from outside of the Merthyr area."
Gareth, who has a degree in project management, said he thinks the project is realistic - however, he thinks there's a possibility the estimated cost will rise.
He said: "In terms of it being realistic, it very well might be. £300 million may be enough to cover everything they need, but doing something along the lines of project management, you always have to factor in the fact that things are never going to go exactly how you want."
We put this concern to Marvel LTD and a spokesman said the company is "confident" about the forecasted cost. The spokesman said: "As is typical for such development projects, the precise structure and details of the funding will be concluded once we receive the planning decision. We plan to review the construction estimates over the intervening period, but remain confident of the business model and current construction cost forecasts. We will ensure that all the funding partners are committed to the delivery and long-term success of the resort."
Nikola Stalis is a 19-year-old artist and student who volunteers at The Talking Shop. She said overall she thinks the project would be a positive addition to the town. However, she hopes it will be affordable for local people to enjoy it as well as tourists. She said she would like to see the project utilising local businesses in its construction.
She said: "I think it is a good idea, but also at the same time, would it be realistic and how is it going to help in general? The only way I think it will help people is by making sure it's affordable for local people.
"Because we live in a money crisis, you have to be careful to make it affordable so people here can enjoy it - not just tourists. Bringing more tourists here would be great, but it could also damage the area because tax influx will happen. People in Merthyr need support rather than a fancy attraction. Rather than adding things, what's already here needs to be improved. Then, an influx of people coming here will naturally happen.
"It would be good if they relied on local businesses in Merthyr to make it - that would help local businesses and help people get jobs. I'm trying to get commissions as an artist and I wouldn't mind helping out a business or project that needs graphic design. If you can use local businesses, you will automatically improve everything in the area. That is a way of helping to fix what is already there.
"Overall I do like the idea, but there are some pros and some cons. As long as the pros and cons are balanced, I don't think I could oppose the idea."
We asked the developers if they intend to use local businesses in the construction and running of the project. In response, a spokesman said: "It is our intention to use as many of the local businesses as possible both through the construction and operational phases of the project. We plan to utilise local businesses post completion to support the resort in its daily operation, through to sourcing local produce for our restaurants. Equally, we expect to increase footfall to the high street and surrounding retail areas and envisage resort visitors to use the town centre and visit local historical and heritage sites of interest."
Mum and daughter, both named Simona Stroesecu, said they are welcoming the plans with open arms. Simona, 67, said: "It will improve the state of mind of the people like me. A lot of them are waiting a long time to see an improvement - renewing this area. I have a grandson who is seven years old and he would be very happy. It is of course a realistic plan because the landscape permits it."
Simona, 44, added: "If it goes ahead, I think it would bring more tourism to the area. Obviously it is a big investment and the people from the surrounding areas can come as well. It would be amazing. They have land allocated for it I think so I think it is feasible. A lot of the industry has died a bit in the last 20 years and the people go and travel for work so it would bring the finances back I think"
Married couple Phillip and Julie Addis said if the project is successful in planning, it would benefit Merthyr and the surrounding areas.
Julie, 62, said: "I think it's a very good idea to bring jobs to the area. We have a grandson who is a fitness instructor at the moment who is looking forward to perhaps using his skills to go up there. It's hard to say at the moment how it will affect the town as the retail park has taken a lot of trade away from the town. Overall I think it's a really good idea."
Phillip, also 62, said: "I think it's a very good idea. I think it will benefit not just Merthyr itself, but the surrounding areas as well. I know it's going to take a few years but even construction jobs will fetch work to the area.
"I think you will have people coming down into the town area, but how much it will improve it I don't know. There are a lot of pound shops and charity shops. It's not just Merthyr - there are a lot of towns like this in Wales especially when they build retail parks just outside of the towns. It will fetch some people in, but how much it will improve, I don't know."
Although Phillip said he is supportive of the project and hopes it will materialise, he said he does worry about how the roads in Merthyr Tydfil will cope with the influx of people attracted to the area by Rhydycar West.
He said: "They just need the infrastructure to do it: the roadways and the links off the A470. I'm thinking about the retail park up above and going into Trago Mills, it's an absolute nightmare - especially on bank holidays. I think they need to seriously consider that."
Since its inception, the scheme has been privately funded, and according to Marvel LTD, there is no requirement for public funding. However, there is the potential opportunity for public sector investment in the development on a commercial basis, a spokesman said.
We put this concerns about the road network to Marvel LTD and a spokesman said: "Comprehensive surveys of all local roads have been completed. Our conclusions from the analysis of the data demonstrate that coupled with the South Wales Metro and Heads of the Valleys Road construction, which are all forecast to be completed within the next few years, there is enough capacity in the existing road network.
"In terms of Trago Mills, access to the resort will be further to the south, before some of the more congested areas around the Trago and Cyfarthfa retail parks. Given we are a resort, traffic to the site will be outside of the traditional rush hour periods. We also recognise the importance of enabling sustainable modes of transport to the site, and a shuttle bus will be made available between the resort and key points in the town, for example, the train and bus stations and directly into the high street."
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