London’s Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is working with inland surfing specialist The Wave on plans for a world-class surfing destination in Edmonton, north London.
The £40 millon (€45m/$51m) facility at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex could make London the first capital city in the world to offer an inland surfing destination. Named The Wave London, it would reinvigorate around 100 acres of land adjacent to the Lee Valley Athletics Centre.
Surfing is a rapidly growing sport and, with its inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it is set to grow significantly. Yet accessibility to the sport has been held back by geographical limitations, weather conditions, swell conditions, wind, tide and daylight hours. The Wave London will overcome all of these issues.
Wavegarden Cove technology will generate up to 1,000 quality waves per hour, starting at 0.5m and peaking at almost 2m. People of all ages, backgrounds and abilities would be able to sample surfing, whether it’s a child stepping onto a board for the first time or a pro-surfer training for the Olympics.
A programme of engagement with local communities and interested organisations is to take place alongside extensive, detailed site analysis for the project. Subject to the results of this, a planning application will be submitted.
More than just surfing
If plans are approved by the London Borough of Enfield and the Mayor of London, The Wave London would offer a new purpose-built surfing lake, but potentially other elements too. These might include a high-performance surfing and skateboarding centre, health and rehabilitation, cycle trails, high ropes and glamping.
The existing lake and associated facilities at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex, which include a white water course used for rafting events in the London 2012 Olympics, will not be affected by The Wave London. Lee Valley Golf Course and Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, however, will close if the project goes ahead.
“These proposals have the potential to create a stunning new regional leisure hub bringing health, fitness, sport and outdoor activities to millions of people along with many new jobs,” says Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. “Lee Valley Leisure Complex was once a sewage works and rubbish dumps. Now we hope to bring inland surfing here to create an outstanding new leisure destination for the capital and the region.”
“We want to create a space where people can have an amazing time by connecting with nature, each other and themselves,” adds The Wave founder, Nick Hounsfield. “Being in the water, catching waves, has the ability to change lives, whilst being so much fun!
The Wave has already started to build a surfing destination in the English city of Bristol. Meanwhile Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has set up a dedicated web page for its planned facility in north London, which will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Images: The Wave
