Londoners dreaming of sand and sea may soon have a stunning new escape on their doorstep, without the need for a long train journey to the coast. Plans are advancing for a transformative community-owned park in East London, complete with a sandy beach and naturally filtered wild swimming ponds.
A Vision for a Community Oasis
Since 2019, the charity East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) has been campaigning to acquire and revitalise a former Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road. The site sits between Hackney Marshes and Walthamstow Marshes. The ambitious vision is to create a free-to-enter, biodiverse haven focused on nature, wellbeing, and inclusivity for all city residents.
The charity's core proposal includes a 3,000 square metre naturally filtered swimming area, featuring two pools filled with rainwater and cleaned by reed beds. One pool would be designed for families, while the other would emulate a wild swimming experience. Adjacent to this would be a sandy beach area with space for approximately 100 people. The entire facility could welcome up to 1,200 swimmers daily.
More Than Just a Swim: A Holistic Park Design
The proposed park is designed as a comprehensive community space. Beyond the beach and pools, plans include:
- Multiple wildflower meadows and dipping ponds.
- An adventure play area and a walled garden.
- A café, an on-site forest school, an art studio, and a science laboratory.
The design was shaped by an extensive four-year 'Listening Project' that gathered input from diverse communities, including African and Afro-Caribbean, LGBTQ+, disabled, Muslim, and Orthodox Jewish groups, as well as people who have faced homelessness or addiction. This feedback established three primary goals: safety, wellbeing, and belonging, leading to features like sensitive lighting, exercise equipment, and park wardens.
Hurdles and Hope for the Future
Despite successfully crowdfunding £500,000 in 2023 to secure the empty site, the project faces significant challenges. The fenced-off concrete expanse awaits planning approval from Hackney Council. In a potential setback, several London councils suggested in January 2024 that a children's home should be built on the land instead, though a formal planning application for that is still pending.
Nathan Miller, co-chair of ELWP, emphasised the site's status as Metropolitan Open Land, arguing its future should involve minimal development and public access. "We oppose the planning application for the secure facility for children," he stated, noting a definitive decision may take time.
Abigail Woodman, director and chair of ELWP, told Metro: "We believe the park will unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place." If approved, this urban beach could become the prime summer destination for Londoners, rivalling trips to Margate, Brighton, or Southend-on-Sea.
