Site Context

The Site

Plan showing the Wycombe Summit site and the immediate surroundings

The 31 hectare (77 acres) site comprises:

  1. 29.3 hectares (72.4 acres) of Ancient Woodland which is known as Deangarden Wood
  2. An area of 2.27 hectares (5.6 acres) within the Ancient Woodland which currently contains redundant dry ski slope matting and other ski lift infrastructure
  3. 1.47 hectares (3.6 acres) not within the Ancient Woodland which forms the proposed development area
Plan showing the Wycombe Summit site and Deangarden Wood

Site History

  • From the mid 1990’s the site operated as a dry ski slope opening between 10am and 10pm
  • The ski slope closed in 2005 following a fire and has since remained derelict
  • In 2007 the owner of the site, SnowDome, sought planning permission for an indoor 100m ski slope; a 300m outdoor slope with floodlighting; an ice rink; and a car park for 230 cars
  • Planning permission was granted for this scheme in March 2010 but was not implemented
  • SnowDome marketed the site for leisure and alternative uses, but without success
  • Hambledon Land took control of the site in early 2015
  • Following initial engagement with Wycombe District Council and stakeholders, a public consultation was undertaken in February 2016
  • A planning application was submitted in April 2016 and planning permission was granted in November 2016