It’s been a ‘very successful’ first month since opening the
outdoor high ropes course at 270 Climbing Park, according to company’s director
David Stevens, with customer feedback placing the adrenaline hub comfortably within the top 10 per cent of tourist attractions and venues across Europe — but a major hurdle still stands between it and completion.
After several years working on the project, Stevens said he was not only thrilled with how phase one had been received since opening in April 2023 but confident planning permission would be won to complete the £7 million scheme.
Covid-19 and careful consideration of 270 Climbing Park's greenbelt position
– on the six-acre site of the former Bentham Domes leisure centre between Cheltenham and Gloucester – have all contributed to the
journey through the planning process being slower than he might have hoped.
SoGlos reported back in February how the new centre, which is expected to attract Olympic standard climbers and families, would create 60 jobs when complete and how the initial phase would open in time for Easter 2023.
Three more phases of development are dependent on planning permission, the first being a cafe and kitchen with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the park and a scenic view of the Cotswolds hills.
Then the new bouldering facilities and fun climbing centre and the final phase being the main climbing arena, expected to open in 2024 with more than 2,500 square metres of indoor and outdoor climbing surfaces, including 16-metre high walls, speed-climbing walls and 600 possible climbing routes.
‘The first month has gone brilliantly. We are really pleased with how it has been received,’ said Stevens, who also runs the Warehouse Climbing Centre in Gloucester and previously co-owned the successful Cheltenham-based Paragon Laundry business.
‘We have yet to be granted planning for the final stages, but we see no reason that will not now go ahead and when we have that the rest of the centre will go ahead quickly.’
Now open to visitors, 270 Climbing Park's soaring six-tier high ropes course is said to be among the highest in Europe
and 22-metre-tall activity tower with its jumps and ziplines.
