£20m ‘Project Thor’ adventure centre for NEC

A NEW £20 million adventure activity centre is set to open at the NEC.

Merlin Attractions, the company which owns Alton Towers and runs Legoland resorts, has unveiled new plans for the venue which could include a skydiving experience and high ropes course.

Called ‘Project Thor’, it follows on from Merlin submitting plans before Christmas to open a Legoland Discovery Centre at the Barclaycard Arena.

The new attraction would be built at the Pavilion next to the Genting Arena concert hall at the huge complex near the airport.

Plans reveal the centre will have an outdoor high ropes experience with a helicopter-style platform from which zip lines will plunge visitors out to a climbing area at the front of the site.

The former forecourt to the Pavilion will also be partially remodelled and landscaped while a skydive activity will also be developed. The new attraction is aimed at the teenager and young adult market, according to the planning application.

There will also be a café and shop and the new attraction will be close to the new HS2 high-speed rail line when it opens in 2026.

The activity centre will create around 25 permanent jobs with work for around 90 other people during school summer holidays.

A report supporting the application said: “Active and adventure experiences are becoming increasingly popular and it is predicted that this sector will continue to grow.

“Project Thor will enable the NEC to diversify into this popular and growing leisure sector.

“It is envisaged the development will generate around 2,000 daily visitors on a peak day and around 480 visitors on a non-peak day.”