Surf Snowdonia on course for July opening
Construction is progressing on a remarkable £12m inland lagoon at Dolgarrog backed by crane hire tycoon Martin Ainscough.
Main contractor D Morgan is currently finishing the concrete channel within the 300-metre attraction which will house the wave-generating mechanics, using Wavegarden technology, and has erected steel frames for the 50-metre gallery, wet suit drying rooms, café and changing areas.
Click image to launch gallery
The scheme is being developed by Conwy Adventure Leisure, which was established in 2012 by Martin Ainscough, who sold his family crane hire business in 2007 for £255m. Conwy Adventure Leisure's managing director is ex-Army officer and former boss of Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester, Steve Davies.
Davies said around 75,000 visitors a year were forecast in the business plan.
The project team includes surveyor WCP Associates, landscape architect Planit-IE, and NJL Consulting on planning. HH Smith of Bury is constructing the buildings, and CGL of Birkenhead is supplying the concrete.
Local rainwater will be used to fill the lagoon, passing through an RWE hydroelectric plant on its way to Surf Snowdonia where it will form two-metre barrel waves. More than 31,000 cubic metres of water will be required to fill the surf area.
The rainwater that fills the lagoon will travel from four different Snowdonia mountain reservoirs including Llyn Cowlyd, the deepest lake in North Wales.
Once in the lagoon, the water will be cleaned with an ultraviolet disinfectant and filtration system to avoid surfers enduring chemicals in the water.
Surf Snowdonia is being constructed on a derelict former industrial site. Much of the material on the site has been reused or recycled, including 25,000 cubic metres of concrete and 400 tonnes of metal.
The attraction is due to open in July.
