Plans for an inland surfing facility in the Lea Valley have been unanimously approved by Enfield Council’s planning committee.
The Surf London scheme at Pickett’s Lock will see a new artificial lake built on parts of Lee Valley Golf Course and Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park. The golf course will be reduced in size and the campsite redeveloped.
At a council planning meeting on Tuesday, September 16, the plans were unanimously approved, in line with officer recommendations.
Hazel Geary, chief executive of Crest Experiences, formerly known as The Wave Group Limited, said she was “excited” for the opportunity to “bring this investment of over £50million into Enfield”.
She said: “From the outset our focus has been ensuring the benefits of Surf London extend directly to the local community.
“Our plans include creating this incredible free-to-access public park with opportunity to play, relax and explore.”
Ms Geary said local residents would have discounted rates on activities including the surf facilities and “up to 200” job opportunities would be created annually.
On the golf course, she said: “We recognise the loyalty of the existing golf community to this site and we are committed to continuing golfing provision on the northern part of the site outside the application area.
“We’re still working through the plans of what that will look like.”
Conservative committee member Michael Rye asked why 150 extra parking spaces were a part of the proposals when a 975-space car park was situated to the west of the site.
This car park currently serves an Odeon cinema, a wedding venue and Lee Valley Athletics Centre.
Karen Page, the council’s head of planning and building control, said relying on provision from a car park that falls outside of the “red line” for this site could be “quite problematic”.
Ms Geary said the new car park meant there would be a closer provision of parking for surfers with accessibility needs, especially when there were surf competitions or events being held.
She also said resident feedback showed “additional parking onsite” was ”specifically asked” to manage any “parking overflow” and to ensure the new development wouldn’t “increase any challenges of parking on neighbouring roads”.
During the statutory consultation on the plans, 16 supportive responses were received by the council, and only one objection.
Following discussion the committee voted unanimously to approve the plan which, because it is a Green Belt site, will be referred up to the Greater London Authority for final approval.
