Hemel Hempstead could find itself walking in a winter wonderland with a real snow ski centre and a new ice rink.
The new facilities would put the town on the map, drawing in winter sports fans from London and across the south.
Planning chiefs have given the ski centre on St Albans Hill the green light and the possibility of an ice rink in Marlowes is being investigated.
There are currently five indoor snow facilities in the UK, with the closest in Milton Keynes, and demand is growing as use of traditional dry slopes diminishes.
Dacorum Borough Council's development control committee delegated the plans with a view to approval last Thursday.
Chairman Richard Roberts said: "I hope the building won't be too overbearing for residents.
"To be honest this could be a really fantastic, exemplary design for sports facilities in Hemel Hempstead. If you get this right you are going to be commended."
The scheme has been before the committee already, but applicants Hemel Ski and Leisure Centre Ltd wanted to revise the design.
The dome roof of the building has been changed to a pitched roof, there will be more landscaping and the number of parking spaces has been increased to 263.
In a separate boost to winter sports an ice rink could be built on the site of the old market in Marlowes.
It is among options being considered by council chiefs, for the square, now that stalls have been moved to outside the shopping centre.
The move would cash in on the ice skating craze sparked by ITV's Dancing On Ice, where celebrities compete for viewers' votes.
The rink would be a temporary measure for around four years until a new arts venue to replace the Pavilion is built on the site.
The idea emerged at a full meeting of the council last week. Cabinet planning chief Ian Reay told councillors: "We are very keen to make use of that site in the short term to support retailers while waiting for the entire area to be redeveloped.
"One of the ideas is looking at an ice rink on that site."
However, the scheme must first negotiate the hurdle of a covenant with LeisureWorld, home of Silverblades, which states there should not be a rival rink on council land.
Councillor Reay said after the meeting: "There may be a possibility of changing that covenant."
A new arts venue, dubbed the 'jewel' because of its translucent outer shell, is due to be built in 2012 at a cost of £25million.
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