Manchester's long history of snowdome proposals has two new entrants. Firstly Venture Xtreme, billed as "the world's first indoor extreme sports adventure centre," will include an indoor halfpipe for boarders. Secondly Chill Factor E, a �28m indoor snowsports centre is planned for an 11-acre site next to the Trafford Centre

The �60m ($110m US) Venture Xtreme would combine 20 different adventure sports under one roof on its 10 acre site at an undisclosed location to the east of the city.

The funding - the normal problem for the development of snowdomes from the drawing board to reality - reportedly already in place, the developers are now waiting on the official go ahead.

Along with the extreme spots facilities the complex would include specialist shops, bars, restaurants, hotel accommodation as well as a health and fitness club with a swimming pool.

The 20 activities would include the world's largest ice climbing wall and a cave system as well as rope, water and board sports. There would be a giant climbing wall and indoor and outdoor adventure play areas for children. The indoor facility would include a snow room for snow play.

VentureXtreme will also feature a skydiving simulator, indoor surf centre, artificial white-water slalom and rafting course, high ropes adventure courses, a skate and BMX park, an abseiling room, a 12-metre scuba diving pool and a half-mile-long zip wire.

Facilities for children, including specialist cr�ches and an indoor snow room with snowmen, sledges and igloos, would also be available.

After Manchester the developers are already looking at two or three more facilities in the UK along similar lines but with a different sports emphasis. London and Bristol are likely future locations.

Chill Factor E, also planned to open in 2006, and will offer two distinct environments, Chill-down and Warm-up. Chill-down will feature three separate 180m long snow slopes of different difficulty levels, each with their own lifts, with a vertical of up to 40m dropping around 40m. Other facilities again include an ice cimbing wall, rock-climbing wall, an indoor skateboard park and children' snow play room.

The Warm-up zone will include shops, bars and restaurants

The team behind Chill Factor E include companies and individuals who have worked for Center Parcs in the UK, the existing Xscape snowdome and Xanadu in Madrid.