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CPD: Data, Design & Delivery - The Making of Valgard

The mighty Drakon, the new roller coaster ride is here!

There has of course been an awful lot of mud, concrete and design work to ensure the 75.5 ft high vertical chain lift hill, step-up under flip, Zero-G stall with 2 inversions roller coaster makes the grade.

So, we have a fantastic CPD lined up at the Park to meet the team who designed and developed the project and then view the new Valgard area of the Park.

  • We will be hearing about the nitty gritty of ensuring that the project delivers enough thrills, with safety baked in.
  • How the team worked together, how data collection created certainty, speed of design and collaboration.
  • How they took a big idea and made it happen.
  • How building a new roller coaster differs (or not) from building a standard house.

This is not your normal CPD. This is not a classroom only event.

We will be walking around Valgard to explore this newest ride and understand the site mapping for future developments at the Park.

There will be plenty of time to explore and ask questions of the team.

 

WHO SHOULD JOIN US?

This CPD is of interest to all professionals and consultants in the construction and built environment.

  • Architects
  • Structural and consulting engineers
  • Property Surveyors
  • Project Managers
  • Development professionals
  • Construction project managers
  • Quantity Surveyors
  • Property Developers and real estate investors
  • Building Designers
  • Building Surveyors

 

EVENT FORMAT

8.00 am – 8.45 am Arrival of Delegates, Networking, Coffee and Pastries

8.45 am – 9.00 am Welcome address from Stephen Lorton, Commercial Director of Paultons Park. Stephen will give us a brief overview of the Park, the growth and diversity and the specific vision for the new Viking themed land, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings (opening May 2026).

9.00 am – 9.15 am Glenn Lickman – Subsurface Research for Above Ground Success. Glenn will provide insight on how ground risk is decoded and demystified, a detailed explanation of the predevelopment digital surveying requirements and how they affect the success of the overall development.

9.15 am – 9.30 am Steve Hollick – Structural Reality – the difference between engineers for a house versus high G rides – Steve will explain how using BIM tech risks can be explored pre-development and reduce safety concerns, development time lines and project costs.

9.30 am – 9.45 am Q&A

9.45 am Walk the Park and ride on Drakon.

10.30 am Networking and Depart

 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THE EVENT

Delegates will gain a complete live case study of Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, understanding how a major themed area and Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter coaster progressed from strategic vision to operational delivery within an established Park.

They will see clearly how engineering for a high-G, inverting ride differs from designing a residential structure governed largely by static loads, and why that distinction matters in practice.

The session will explain how geospatial data, subsurface modelling and early digital surveying influence design decisions, risk allocation and construction methodology on a dynamic asset.

Delegates will understand how safety standards and regulatory requirements shape the project from concept stage, embedding compliance and operational resilience from the outset.

They will gain practical insight into how BIM and collaborative engineering allow risks to be explored, tested and resolved before construction begins.

Attendees will leave with sharper thinking on load paths, ground assumptions, design coordination and early-stage risk management that can be applied directly to commercial and residential development projects.

Networking with other like minded professionals

A case study that isn’t a building

Presentations from experts

 

MEET THE TEAM

Stephen Lorton, Commercial Director of Paultons Park, has been involved with the Park for a number of years.  He holds a wealth of experience of handling this destination/hospitality theme park that has made Paultons the UK’s number 1 family theme park rated on Google.

 

Steve Hollick, Senior Associate, Ridge & Partners LLP. Steve is a seasoned BSI BIM Project Information Professional. He assists architects clients and other construction professionals to work collaboratively and deliver an individual solution tailor made BIM solution to maximize output and efficiency.

 

Glenn Lickman, CEO and Co-Founder for Encompass Geospatial Ltd.  Glenn has handled a varied range of land surveying  projects through his career throughout the UK.  He is also a senior member of the TSA, The Survey Association.