Investing in the community of Edmonton
Bringing Surf London to the London Borough of Enfield has been a project over 10 years in the making. In that time, what has remained a focal point to all those involved is local people and communities.
From 2028, c500,000 visits will be made to Surf London every year, introducing hundreds of thousands of people to this part of North London. You only need to widen the lens a little to see the scale of economic regeneration in the area. The newly built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, just 5km down the road, is a world-renowned venue which not only hosts Premier League football, but NFL games and music concerts for global megastars like Beyoncé. The Meridian Water housing development will deliver 10,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs as part of a £6bn investment over 20 years. Less than 10km to the north, Google are investing £5bn into a new data centre expected to contribute over 8000 jobs annually. Surf London is committed to being another significant part of this regeneration, creating meaningful opportunities for local people, for both active leisure use and employment.
The vision for Surf London has been to create a destination that feels connected to Enfield and accessible to the communities around it. Alongside the surfing lake itself, the development will include community parkland designed to encourage people outdoors, giving local residents more space to be active, social and connected to nature. Throughout the landscape will be active play and fitness facilities to promote play, health and well-being.
A long-term community use plan for the surfing and activity zone has also been established to ensure access remains affordable and inclusive. This includes discounted surf sessions, reduced pricing for swimming and other water-based activities, as well as discounted annual admission passes for local users. These commitments will remove barriers to participation and create more opportunities for people of all ages to experience the physical and mental benefits of being outdoors and active around water.
The project also represents a major investment in local employment and skills. From the start of construction, Surf London is committed to sourcing at least 25% of labour from the local area, alongside investing 10% of overall construction spend on local goods and materials. Once operational, the site will create new career pathways through a minimum of four apprenticeships and 20 work experience placements per year through partnerships with local schools, job centres and employment advisors.
Importantly, these opportunities are designed to be practical and accessible. Surf London will help local people build confidence, skills and long-term careers within the leisure and hospitality sector for roles such as lifeguarding and coaching,
Creating a successful destination also means creating one that works responsibly for the surrounding area. Surf London’s travel plan prioritises active travel and public transport. Improvements will be made to the bus stop infrastructure at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex including a new shelter and accessible crossings, the destination will be easily to find with clear and informative wayfinding around the area, and enhanced cycle facilities will include the introduction of dockless bikes to the borough for the first time.
Ultimately, Surf London is about much more than surfing. It is about creating a place that contributes positively to the future of Enfield, supporting healthier lifestyles, stronger communities and long-term economic opportunity for the people who live there.