Rhydycar West leisure resort gets the green light

The Rhydycar West mixed leisure development includes an indoor snow centre, water park, indoor activity centre, outdoor activity centre, hotel and woodland lodge accommodation

Outline planning permission has been granted for Rhydycar West, a world-class sport and leisure resort that will its proposers claim will redefine tourism in South Wales and beyond.

At the heart of the proposals are the UK’s longest indoor snow centre, a tropical indoor waterpark, a dynamic indoor and outdoor adventure centre, luxury hotels, and woodland lodges — all set within breath-taking natural surroundings.

Proposals were first submitted in 2023. In March 2025, Merthyr Tydfil councillors voted against recommendations by council officials to refuse consent for the development, which is to take place on former coal mining land alongside the A470 and just to the south of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Plans were then submitted to the Welsh Government, which decided not to stand in the way of the development in November 2025. Approval by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council effectively now gives the green light to the scheme.

Ali Tyebkhan, CEO of Rhydycar West, said: “This is an amazing moment. It marks the culmination of many years of hard work as well as patience. Thank you to all our team, partners, supporters and the local community – we could not have done this without your ongoing support over the years. We are very excited and looking forward to the next stages of work and delivery of the development.”