WAVEGARDEN Scotland has secured planning permission to build Scotland’s first man-made surf park near Ratho, Edinburgh.
In what has been tipped to provide a major boost to the local economy, the firm plans to redevelop Craigpark Quarry into a major leisure attraction. A man-made lake will feature new wave technology, developed by Wavegarden in Spain.
The proposal has been designed by architects HarrisonStevens, with engineering and technical consultation provided by WSP, and planning and development advice by Colliers International.
Alongside a surfing facility, Wavegarden Scotland also includes a surf school, luxury guest lodges, glamping pods, a café and restaurant, retail spaces, zip line, water tubing area, integrated natural play, bike skills track, and a snow-sports training jump.
Andy Hadden, the co-founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd which is developing Wavegarden Scotland said, “We are thrilled that the plans for Wavegarden Scotland have been approved. We believe that this facility will deliver many benefits for the local community and for Scotland by offering world-class adventure leisure amenities alongside a wonderful country park, for walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy. Alongside this, we expect to create up to 130 jobs and generate up to £11 million for the local economy every year.
“Another very exciting aspect of Wavegarden Scotland is the opportunity to nurture surfing and sporting talent. With Scotland’s own surfing team starting to make a mark on the global surf scene, we hope to inspire the next generation of surfers, life guards, and active outdoor enthusiasts.”
Using recently released wave generation technology called The Cove, Wavegarden Scotland will have the capability to enable “elite-level” sports training and development.
Colliers International handled the development’s planning application. Director Andrew McNab said, “Wavegarden Scotland will provide a huge economic boost to Ratho and the surrounding area. We welcome the decision and we are thrilled with the outcome, from the very beginning the consultations received a very positive reception, so to hear that the application has been given the green light is fantastic.”
Martin Stevens, director of landscape architects HarrisonStevens added, “This is a unique and exciting project, combining the natural ecology, heritage and character of the area with world-class leisure and sporting facilities. Wavegarden Scotland will be a positive community asset for generations to come and help put Scotland on the map in adventure leisure whilst showcasing the benefits of truly landscape-led, context-driven masterplanning.”
Paul Robertson, principal engineer at WSP said, “Wavegarden is an exciting and ground-breaking project, which will require complex technical support. WSP has a solid track record of delivering complex multi-disciplinary projects and we keenly anticipate tackling the engineering challenges associated with this exciting addition to the leisure sector in Scotland.”
