Local News · Warminster

Center Parcs Longleat gains planning approval for new Treetop Glider ride

By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published

Illustrative stock photograph; not a verified image of the reported event or person
Illustrative stock image (Pexels); not a verified photograph of the people, place or event reported.

Wiltshire Council has approved plans for a new rollercoaster-style zipline at the Center Parcs Longleat Forest resort near Warminster.

A new aerial adventure attraction is set to be built at the Center Parcs Longleat Forest resort after receiving planning permission from Wiltshire Council. The development will see a rollercoaster-style zipline, known as the Treetop Glider, installed on the southern side of the village.

Located between the existing Sports Plaza and the mini golf course, the new attraction is designed to weave through the mature woodland. The scheme includes the construction of a main support structure reaching up to 12.9 metres, alongside a tower platform, a timber-clad cabin, and a covered waiting area for guests. To accommodate the new ride, an existing outdoor pavilion and bandstand on the site will be demolished.

Wiltshire Council planning officers approved the application under delegated powers, concluding that the project will strengthen the local tourism offer while remaining sensitive to the forest environment. The structures will feature timber cladding to help them blend into the woodland setting, and officials noted that the surrounding trees and rising ground will help mitigate visual impact.

Because the holiday village sits within the Cranborne Chase National Landscape and the International Dark Sky Reserve, the project underwent significant scrutiny regarding its environmental footprint. However, council experts in ecology, trees, and landscape raised no objections to the plans.

Strict planning conditions have been imposed to protect the area's nocturnal environment. Lighting will be restricted to low-impact, warm-toned lamps with a maximum colour temperature of 2,700 Kelvin. Furthermore, the attraction is limited to operating hours between 9am and 8pm to minimise disturbance.

As part of the environmental commitment for the project, Center Parcs is required to deliver biodiversity net gain. This includes ongoing habitat monitoring over the next 30 years, alongside the installation of new bat and bird boxes throughout the site.

Source: Wiltshire Times — Warminster · View original