Breaking Ground at The Wave

The Wave, Bristol

Breaking Ground at The Wave

Enabling works have started on the innovative inland surfing project, The Wave.

The Wave is located just off the M5 at Bristol and will be the first inland surf lake in the UK which uses Wavegarden ‘Cove’ technology.

The Cove technology generates up to 1,000 quality waves per hour, allowing people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to experience the joy of surfing. Whether it’s a professional surfer training for the Olympics, or children getting on a board for the first time, everyone will be welcome.

As well as bringing a unique, attraction to Bristol, The Wave could also have a big impact on the UK’s fortunes at major surfing competitions, with pro-surfers expected to train there regularly.

In addition to the surfing lake, the site will also include a campsite, woodland walks, clubhouse, retail space restaurant and gardens.

The scheme has been over 6 years in making, with WWA providing Project Management and Cost Management Services.

The team even travelled to San Sebastian in Spain, where the Wavegarden technology and prototype facility has been built. This has been critical for the project team to liaise with the manufacturing design team and ‘test the waves’.

Simon Venner, Associate Partner and Lead Project Manager, said: “We are really excited to be involved with The Wave. This innovative leisure experience, will be a fantastic addition to Bristol and appeal to all demographics”.

“WWA and the rest of the project team have worked incredibly hard and we are therefore, thrilled to see it finally start to become a reality”.

The client’s brief includes demanding targets for sustainability and inclusivity of experience, with a vision to introduce surfing and wave sports to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

The Wave Bristol will be the first full-size Wavegarden Cove facility open to the public in Europe and the second in the world after Melbourne, Australia.

‘The Wave has secured the financial backing of Jar Capital Ltd to fully fund the development.

The timeline for development and completion will see the lake being ready and pushing waves for a testing period in the middle of 2019, with the aim of being fully open to the public in late 2019.

For more information about The Wave, contact our Exeter office or visit: www.thewave.com

Imagery courtesy of APG Architects and the Wave.