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Devon Eden surf lagoon stalled
UK Eden Project has big plans but it looks like government is getting in the way
Last week it was announced that plans for a £200 million surf lake and mini Eden Project near Tiverton are to be looked at by a planning inspector.
Plans for the development have been in the pipeline since 2002, however they’ve been subject to a series of hurdles and delays. The project’s current incarnation would be funded via a partnership between the Eden project and investors Friends Life.
"The Eden Ark will be at the centre of the scheme that will be split into four zones" reports Devon Live. "It will include a hotel, a visitor hub, an artificial surfing lake, a food hall, outdoor play areas, cafes and restaurants, shops for small businesses and a designer clothes outlet discount shopping centre… The surf lagoon will be at the heart of the outdoor adventure zone, similar to Surf Snowdonia, Wales."
Many surfers question the need for the complex so close to quality surf and others claiming such a large commercial development, including an energy hungry wave pool, clashes with Eden’s eco commitments.
Of course, building any giant structure has a huge environmental impact, however, a look at wave pools around the world proves it is possible to run them with a relatively low negative environmental impact, while simultaneously having a hugely positive social one.
In terms of social impact, Surf Snowdonia has created 109 jobs and attracted 150,000 visitors in their first season alone. Although the influx of visitors has caused some inevitable complaints about parking, the masses of cash they’ve brought with them has been incredibly positive for the region, adding millions to the local economy.
Planners claim the facility would also provide 1200 jobs to ‘an often forgotten part of Devon’ as well as bringing all the educational and leisure benefits one would expect from a ‘mini Eden’ and a wave pool.
The Eden Project itself was constructed with as low a carbon footprint as possible, with sustainably sourced materials, super insulation. It also currently has a plethora of renewable energy generation schemes in the works.
Valere Tjolle
Valere is publisher and editor of Sustainable Tourism 0.2 to be published in September
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