Another day, another surf pool project is being announced for the near future. Following in the footsteps of The Wave in Bristol, England, Emerge Surf Birmingham — located roughly 80 miles inland — is bringing another Wavegarden Cove to the United Kingdom. According to their website, “Emerge Surf Birmingham was originally unveiled in 2019 and has now received the backing of North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Planning and Development Board. All 15 voting members minded to support the planning application for the 15-acre site, approximately seven miles to the east of Birmingham’s city centre at Coleshill.
“The £25 million wave park will feature a 5.4-acre surf lagoon, powered by Wavegarden’s Cove technology, an outdoor heated swimming pool, hub building and a perimeter track for Onewheel electric skateboards. It is expected to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs, attract around 250,000 visitors a year and deliver an annual economic boost of between £18 million – £21 million to the region.”
Steve Price, the founder and CEO of Emerge Surf, continues:
“Our aim with Emerge Surf is to bring a slice of the ocean to Birmingham, creating a haven for landlocked surfers and those wanting to try the sport for the first time. I’m thrilled to see such resounding backing from North Warwickshire Borough Council, recognising our vision and being minded to support the project.
“We’re excited to enter the next phase in our plan to deliver a wave park that will be a huge asset to the region and its already renowned visitor economy. It will provide a world-class experience for surfers of all levels, delivering a positive social impact while supporting mental and physical well-being. This is alongside creating new jobs, boosting tourism and elevating the region’s reputation as a sport and leisure destination.
“Our focus now is on finalising our funding structure, progressing on-site groundworks, which we expect to start before the end of this year and working collaboratively with all partners as we prepare to open to the public in early 2022.”
England (x2!). Australia. America. Soon all three countries will have a publicly available Wavegarden Cove surf pool.
Who’s next?
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