It has been confirmed that Alton Towers Resort are indeed looking to open an aquarium next season. After weeks of speculation and rumours, BBC News have came out with this latest report confirming the park have applied for planning permission.

Alton Towers theme park is planning to open an aquarium next year.

The Staffordshire park wants to open a Sea Life aquarium when the new season begins in March.

A planning application has been submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, a spokeswoman for Alton Towers said.

The family attraction said it would be the 30th Sea Life centre in the world, including one already in Birmingham city centre.

Russell Barnes, divisional director, said: “The plans promise an attraction that will be a very special experience that all the family can enjoy together.

“We’ll be adding our own unique Alton Towers touch to Sea Life’s excellent reputation and expertise in marine conservation, education and awareness.”

The park recently announced that its 28-year-old Corkscrew rollercoaster would close next month.

In addition, the planning application states that the existing 3D cinema building will be demolised in association with the proposed development of a replacment indoor attraction. So that does suggest that the centre is going be purposefully built rather than worked around the 3D cinema building in Mutiny Bay as rumoured originally. Expect to find out the outcome of the application by at least the end of November.

So what are your thoughts? Would you like to see an aquarium open at Alton Towers next season?