London's first surfing lake gets council go-ahead

"A north London council has approved plans for an inland surfing facility in the Lea Valley. 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. Enfield Council's planning committee unanimously approved the plan, in which the golf course will be reduced in size and the campsite redeveloped."

"Hazel Geary, chief executive of Crest Experiences, the company behind the facility, said it would be a 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. She said the project will bring more than 50m of investment into Enfield, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."

"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. Getty Images 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"."

Enfield Council approved a Surf London scheme at Pickett's Lock that will create an artificial surfing lake 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 to form a 100-acre public park featuring a purpose-built surfing lake, green space, skateboarding areas, playparks and health and wellbeing activities. Crest Experiences expects discounted rates for local residents, up to 200 annual job opportunities and more than a350m of investment. The site sits alongside existing Lee Valley sporting facilities and has prompted additional onsite parking proposals to meet accessibility and event needs.

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