Back in 2012, London’s Olympic Park was all the rage.
As home to the Olympic Games, it was popular with those watching as well as locals enjoying the newly redesigned area.
It also boasted a famous tunnel slide, the longest in the world, inside an imposing red structure that could be seen from afar.
Naturally, you’d assume such a title would draw in visitors from the world over.
But the curly red structure, ArcelorMittal Orbit, didn’t bring in as many visitors as expected.
Now, it might be set for a revamp – including the creation of a new tourist attraction.
Welsh adventure brand Zip World took over operations of the ArcelorMittal Orbit last September, promising to transform it into a ‘European first-of-its-kind adventure’.
It has now proposed attaching a zipwire to the structure, TimeOut reported.
The curly red structure, ArcelorMittal Orbit, didn’t bring in as many visitors as expected
Zip World’s planning application explained the new ride would be a switchback zipwire.
The zip wire would span 440 metres and zoom over the main walkway that sports and music fans take into the London Stadium.
At 114.5 metres, the Orbit is the tallest sculpture in the UK.
It is Britain’s largest piece of public art and is intended to be a permanent lasting monument to mark London’s hosting of the 2012 games.
The new attraction will need permission from Tower Hamlets and Newham councils.
This is because the the line will cross the River Lea and stretch across both boroughs – the Orbit is in Newham while the 39-metre return tower would be in Tower Hamlets.
Councillors in Tower Hamlets are due to consider the planning application for the tower on October 22.
However, the launch platform that needs to be attached to the Orbit is still pending consideration from Newham councillors.
Now, it might be set for a revamp – including the creation of a new tourist attraction, a zipwire
Plans from Zip World say the zipline would ‘offer a unique and exhilarating experience’ – and would bring in an estimated 60,000 extra visitors each year.
Planning officers say they do not consider the return tower to have an impact on protected Metropolitan Open Land, and are recommending that councillors vote to approve it, the BBC reported.
Plans submitted to both councils also say that Zip World plans to install a ‘gravity descender’ attraction on the tower.
A separate planning application for this would follow, plans said.
