CONSTRUCTION on Middlesbrough’s snow centre could begin by the end of the year as top architects are called in to draw up detailed plans.

Middlehaven snow centre developer Cool Runnings has announced the appointment of a firm of internationally-renowned architects to help take the scheme forward.

Architect FaulknerBrowns – designers behind five of the UK’s six existing snow centres – has been appointed to progress the next key stage of the visitor attraction.

The move is the latest major step forward towards making the snow centre a reality, and over the next six months FaulknerBrowns will draw up full designs and costings.

Rachael Howson, director of Cool Runnings, said construction work on the project – which is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority – should begin by the end of the year, or early 2019. Full plans should be in to planning chiefs by September.

Previously, autumn 2018 was mooted as a start date.

Ms Howson said: “We appointed FaulknerBrowns a week and a half ago.

“They’ve done four out of the six snow centres in the UK so far.”