Birmingham’s Legoland set for green light – bringing a jobs boost

Barclaycard Arena will be host to only the second Legoland discovery centre in the UK featuring indoor rides and 4D cinemaPlans for a new Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham are set to be approved when councillors meet next week.The Birmingham Mail revealed last year that Legoland owner Merlin was looking to bring its toy brick-themed attraction to the city and now council officers have given it the thumbs up in a report ahead of next Thursday’s planning committee meeting.The indoor version of Legoland is to be based in the Barclaycard Arena and will be a major new leisure attraction for the city centre.It will be over three floors to the south side of the landmark arena across the canal from Brindleyplace and contain a mix of indoor rides, interactive Lego-themed attractions and games, a 4D cinema, a café and a shop.The planning report states it will be a two-hour attraction open from 10am to 6pm daily and is expected to receive up to 2,560 visitors on its busiest days.Some 40-50 staff will be employed – about a quarter part-time – as well as some extra staff at peak times of the year such as school holidays.About 140 basement level parking spaces will also be removed to accommodate the centre. It will be similar to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Greater Manchester.