Two sandy beaches could be built in east London

A staycation complete with golden sand could soon be on the doorstep for Londoners as a charity hopes to build naturally filtered swimming ponds on a former waterworks site.

East London Waterworks Park has been campaigning for more than five years to buy a 14-acre plot of land near the Walthamstow Wetlands.

The Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road in Waltham Forest would beturned into a ‘community-owned, biodiverse park with wild swimming ponds and community spaces.’

The two swimming ponds would be larger than other popular outdoor swimming spaces in the capital, including London Fields Lido and the Hampstead Ladies’ Pond.

If the proposals go ahead, the area could become a huge tourist hit as the charity says the pond could accommodate up to 1,200 swimmers a day.

The two pools would be filled with rainwater, then naturally filtered by reed beds.

The two planned beaches will provide space for up to 80 sunbathers, while the naturally filtered ponds will provide a habitat for different wildlife species.

However, the charity faces an uphill battle with competing proposals to build a secure children’s home for up to 24 vulnerable young people on the site.

A Waltham Forest Council spokesperson said: ‘London boroughs are taking forward proposals to deliver a much-needed secure children’s home that will provide specialist care, education and health and wellbeing services in a safe, secure and therapeutic environment for some of London’s most vulnerable children.

‘The proposed site for this provision is the Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road.’

Subcontractors for Thames Water currently use the plot of land as a storage site.

The land has been designated Metropolitan Open Land in London, marking it as a strategically important green space within the city.

This status protects it from inappropriate development to prevent urban sprawl and preserve green infrastructure for recreation, nature and the city’s structure.

Campaigners argue that the land should be protected from redevelopment.

A planning application for two schools on the site was previously refused.

Abigail Woodman, chair of the East London Waterworks Park charity, said: ‘The site is Metropolitan Open Land and, as such, its only credible future is one involving minimal development and open public access for all, reconnecting the marshes and nature reserves of the Lower Lea Valley.

‘We oppose the planning application for the secure facility for children, but we are unlikely to receive a definitive decision one way or another for some time.

‘We think the only and best use for the site is East London Waterworks Park, a biodiverse park for everyone, which will significantly strengthen the green corridor in the Lea Valley.

‘The land is Metropolitan Open Land, after all, which means it should be protected from all kinds of development, including a secure facility for children.

‘We’ll continue to work on our fight for our dream.’

London Councils has been approached for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@usnewsrank.com.

For more stories like this, check our news page.