Officials at North Warwickshire Borough Council have given the green light for a wave park to be built near Birmingham, having voted unanimously in favour of the project.

Known as Emerge Surf Birmingham, the £25m wave park will be located in Coleshill, seven miles to the east of Birmingham city centre. The park will feature a 5.4-acre Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon, a surf school, outdoor heated swimming pool, a surf shop, multi-purpose fitness studio, and a perimeter track for Onewheel electric skateboards.

The surf lagoon will be powered by Wavegarden’s Cove technology. There will also be a children’s play area at the park and a physio and massage room.

Steve Price, founder and CEO of Emerge Surf, said: “Our aim with Emerge Surf is to bring a slice of the ocean to Birmingham, creating a haven for landlocked surfers and those wanting to try the sport for the first time. I’m thrilled to see such resounding backing from North Warwickshire Borough Council, recognising our vision and beinging minded to support the project.

“We’re excited to enter the next phase in our plan to deliver a wave park that will be a huge asset to the region and its already renowned visitor economy. It will provide a world-class experience for surfers of all levels, delivering a positive social impact while supporting mental and physical wellbeing. This is alongside creating new jobs, boosting tourism and elevating the region’s reputation as a sport and leisure destination.

“Our focus now is on finalising our funding structure, progressing on-site groundworks, which we expect to start before the end of this year and working collaboratively with all partners as we prepare to open to the public in early 2022,” Price added.

The facility is expected to attract around 250,000 visitor a year and will create 100 full-time jobs.