ONE of the biggest activity centres in the UK is set to get a major facelift.

Hampshire County Council will invest £320,00 to install new facilities at Calshot Activities Centre.

The centre, which is operated by the council, offers water and land-based activities.

The site includes two main hangar houses which house climbing walls, ski slopes and a velodrome while two smaller hangars cater for water sports and team building areas along with three residential blocks and an associated dining room.

Under the plans, the council will install new equipment for several challenges which include:

• Aerial trekking – new indoor high ropes course including balance beams, tightrope bridges and stepping stones whilst visitors are attached to a continuous safety system.

• Auto belayed climbing – new rock wall climbing system with an automated safety rope machine which takes up the slack during a climb and controls the descent.

• Bouldering – improved indoor rock climbing, enabling climbers to move freely and flexibly between rocks.

• Ringos – tobogganing down a dry ski slope in inflatable tubes.

Alongside this, there will be the addition of ten camping pods, providing additional accommodation for up to 40 people.

County councillor Andrew Gibson said: “With this significant investment at Calshot, we hope to attract new customers and provide an even more exciting offer.

“With the addition of climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, these will be wonderful additions to our existing first class sport and recreational facilities at Calshot and offer a great opportunity to inspire people of all ages to try new sports and activities.”

Construction is expected to start next year.