Indoor skydiving next to O2 Arena green lit and could be open later this year

An indoor skydiving tower next to the O2 Arena has been given the green light and could be open later this year.

Locals in Greenwich can look forward to the iFly experience, which sees state-of-the-art wind technology simulate the experience of flying.

A two-storey building will be set up at the north-east end of the O2 arena for the attraction.

It will be the fourth iFly in the UK, following the company’s set-ups in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Basingstoke.

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It is hoped the attraction will bring a boost to tourism in Greenwich, following other eye-catching attractions like the Emirates Air Line.

The proposed building will have a huge wind tunnel with fans that create wind speeds that simulate the flying experience.

First time flyers will be given flying practice while “return flyers” will be allowed to bypass training.

According to iFly, the sessions will last around 45 to 60 minutes, including the time for the users to be trained and geared up.

Each user will be waiting for their scheduled time in the iFLY amphitheatre, where they will be able to watch others experience the “flight chamber” before they take a go.

A spokesperson for the iFly said: “This is an iconic location for iFLY and we have been working with the O2 team for a long time to bring the Dream of Flight to London.

“We will be starting work this year and, subject to the ever-changing supply chain and logistics, might even get opened by the end of the year.

“iFLY will employ between 30 and 40 team members at the O2 which will surely become one of our most important destinations to welcome Londoners and visitors aged three to 103, and introduce them to this amazing activity and sport.”

After planning papers were put forward in August, the project has been given the stamp of approval.

This followed a pre-application request that was submitted to the council at the beginning of 2019.