AMBITIOUS plans for a ski centre have moved a step closer to hitting the peaks.

The multi-million pound project is expected to be open by 2019 after Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the application.

Cool Runnings (NE) Limited want to build a centre with two ski slopes – a nursery slope for beginners, and a main slope for more advanced skiers – on a seven-acre site close to the Riverside Stadium.

The application was welcomed by councillors who believe it could be the catalyst to bring even more investment into the town.

Committee member Councillor Peter Cox said: “This is possibly one of the most exciting proposals we have seen in front of the committee. It’s one of the best things to happen to our town in a decade.”

And Cllr Jordan Blyth said: “People were busy pronouncing the death of our town but now it is back alive. This is the scheme that is going to breathe life back into Middlesbrough,”

Members voted eight to zero in favour.

As well as the two slopes, other leisure uses, including areas for associated retail, bars and eateries, car parking and a terrace, which looks out over the Middlehaven Dock, will be incorporated into the huge scheme.

Extras include facilities for sledging, tubing, ice wall climbing, an ice bar, a trampoline park, indoor sky dive centre and climbing walls.

Rachael Howson, of Cool Runnings (NE) Ltd, said she was delighted that the scheme had moved closer to completion.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: “We are absolutely delighted that the application was so well received by the committee. We have put a lot of hard work into this scheme and it is really starting to take shape.

“We have had a lot of interest in it and we should be back with the finer details in about six months time. Once it is open we expect to be able to attract people from across the region as the nearest similar centres are near Wakefield and Glasgow.”

Steve Barker, of Prism Planning, agents for the applicant, added: “The £30 million scheme will provide around 300 jobs once it’s completed and will be only the seventh such scheme in the whole of the UK. It is forecast that the scheme will bring in more than 2.25 million visitors to the area and will clearly be a major boost to the economy of the whole Tees Valley with spin off benefits to a wide range of businesses, ranging from hotels and restaurants through to travel businesses and shops in Middlesbrough town centre.

“The detailed design of the building will now be the subject of further work but the concept design provided by the team at Summerhouse Architects has won praise and support from many, including English Heritage, guardians of the nearby listed clock tower and iconic Transporter Bridge.”