The proposed £50m facility next to Lee Valley Athletics Centre dubbed ‘The Wave’ has drawn concerns because of its Green Belt location, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Aerial view of the proposed surfing lagoon (credit The Wave Group)

A planning application has been submitted for an inland surfing facility near Pickett’s Lock.

The new artificial lake, set to be created on Green Belt land currently comprising part of Lee Valley Golf Course and Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, will generate a variety of waves for surfers to enjoy. An adjacent complex will also include a two-storey clubhouse, “beach front area” and maintenance facility.

The existing golf course will be reduced in size but also “reimagined” and incorporated into the wider leisure complex.

The campsite, which currently contains 131 pitches and twelve single-storey wood cabins, will be redeveloped with new lodges and “glamping” facilities, while some of the pre-existing buildings will be used to support the new surfing development.

Beach sports, children’s wet and dry play zones, bike track, skate and sports courts as well as a mutli-functional outdoor events area will also be delivered.

However, the plan has drawn criticism for being sited on an area of Green Belt described as a “special location” and “green lung”.

In its planning statement, developer The Wave Group points out the area is “largely inaccessible to the wider community” at present but that the new plans will include improved access.

The company states: “The proposals will enable far greater community use of, an access to, large parts of the site, while also retaining the existing golf activities to the north of the application site”.

A pre-application public consultation held in March saw 93% of the 982 people taking part express some level of support for the plan – with only 5% of respondents having reservations, 1% being against and another 1% being unsure.

Traffic and parking were the main objections highlighted in the survey. The surfing lake was the most attractive part of the plan with 914 saying it was “important” when asked. Community access to the parkland, sports activities and a cafe area came up as the next most important issues. As well as parking and additional traffic, damage to the ecology on the site was a common concern with 293 residents mentioning it, along with worry over the facility’s affordability and accessibility.

More information on the surfing scheme can be found via Enfield Council’s planning portal, using the reference number 25/01664/FUL.

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