A bold vision to bring golden sandy beaches and natural swimming ponds to east London is being championed by a local charity, promising a major new staycation destination on the capital's doorstep.
The Vision for a Community-Owned Oasis
For more than five years, the East London Waterworks Park charity has campaigned to purchase a significant 14-acre plot of land on Lea Bridge Road in Waltham Forest. The site, currently used as a storage depot by Thames Water subcontractors, sits near the cherished Walthamstow Wetlands.
The ambitious plan is to convert this industrial plot into a ‘community-owned, biodiverse park’ featuring two large wild swimming ponds and dedicated community spaces. The proposed swimming ponds would be larger than other famous outdoor swimming spots in London, including London Fields Lido and the Hampstead Ladies’ Pond.
Natural Filtration and Tourist Potential
The design of the park emphasises ecological harmony. The two swimming pools would be filled with rainwater and then naturally filtered through reed beds, creating a clean and sustainable environment. This system would also provide a valuable habitat for various wildlife species.
Alongside the ponds, the plans include two sandy beaches with space for up to 80 sunbathers. The charity believes the completed park could become a huge tourist attraction, with the capacity to accommodate an estimated 1,200 swimmers per day.
A Contested Future for Protected Land
However, the charity's dream faces a significant challenge. The land has been designated as Metropolitan Open Land, a status that protects strategically important green spaces in London from inappropriate development to prevent urban sprawl.
This protection is at the heart of a competing proposal. Waltham Forest Council is supporting plans to build a secure children’s home for up to 24 vulnerable young people on the same site. A council spokesperson stated the home would provide “specialist care, education and health and wellbeing services in a safe, secure and therapeutic environment.”
Campaigners, led by charity chair Abigail Woodman, argue that the Metropolitan Open Land status means the site should be preserved for minimal development and public access. “We think the only and best use for the site is East London Waterworks Park, a biodiverse park for everyone,” Woodman said. The charity opposes the children's home application, though a definitive planning decision is not expected imminently.
The fate of the site remains uncertain, poised between providing crucial social care and creating a unique, expansive green leisure facility for the wider community.
