Good progress for Visions of China

AMBITIOUS plans for the world’s first Chinese cultural theme park at Rother Valley is making ‘good progress.’

A year after it was first announced Rotherham Council says it is ‘confident’ that the multi million pound Visions of China leisure project will be delivered.

In August, last year, Rotherham Council revaled it had granted a lease for the 120-acre former Pit House West site, to a consortium who wanted to build a £100 million theme park.

The project is set to create 200 jobs during its construction period and then 380 permanent jobs. Developers predict up to one and a half million visitors could visit the park each year.

Council leader Roger Stone confirmed that he and council officers met last month with the Peter Moore, former marketing director of Alton Towers, and Stephen Byrne, chief executive of regeneration specialists MCD Developments.

He said: “Although there is some way to go, I can say that the project is making good progress with much work going on behind the scenes.”

“Projects such as these do take a long time with much negotiation taking place that the public never get to hear about until it is signed, sealed and delivered.”

“The New York Stadium was a case in point when it hosted Rotherham United’s first league game of the season.”

The site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park, was originally earmarked for the £350 million YES! Project, but was put up for sale by the council after a lack of progress by developers Oak Holdings.

Attractions are set to include rollercoaster rides, Oriental lakes and gardens, a China Town retail street, temple and cultural centre, theatre, children’s fantasy land, restaurants, oriental spa and giant pagoda.

A spokesman for Rotherham Council said: “The principle of a significant leisure development on this particular site has long been agreed and Visions of China is still very much a live project.”

“We are working in partnership with the developers, and are committed to ensuring that this unique international leisure scheme becomes a reality. We are confident it will be delivered.”

When the project was announced developers predicted it could happen in relatively short space of time because the site already has outline planning permission for a big leisure scheme.