If you grew up in Birmingham dreaming of becoming a surfer, you either moved away or gave up that idea a long time ago. Beaches are hard to come by in the West Midlands – even if that are quite a few decent ones you can drive to – but maybe don’t give up on your dream just yet. The UK’s largest wave park looks to finally open near Birmingham in 2025.
Announced in 2019, Emerge Surf was originally preparing to open to the public in early 2022 – costing £25 million that, obviously, didn’t happen. Updates about the 15-acre site in Coleshill, North Warwickshire, have been pretty much nonexistent for a while now and most assumed it was over. But the project is seemingly alive and kicking after Stoneweg Infrasport acquired the former Emerge Surf development site for £50 million.
Sitting approximately seven miles to the east of Birmingham city centre, Emerge Surf will feature a 5.4-acre surf lagoon “able to generate 1,000 waves per hour, up to two meters high, with adjustable size and shape.” Utilising Wavegarden Cove technology, a revolutionary wave-generating technology, it is designed to reuse part of the energy created in the wave-generation process.
Miguel de Lucas, Managing Partner at Teras Capital, said: “This new wave park in Birmingham represents our commitment to fuse sport and leisure, offering an innovative experience in what is the second largest metropolitan area in the UK. This project will not only provide access to urban surfing for millions of people, but will also become an international benchmark in terms of the facilities and entertainment offering for visitors.”
Due to be finished by the end of 2025, it is expected to welcome up to 200,000 visitors per year. It’s the second wave park investment under Stoneweg Infrasport, following what will be the largest wave park in Europe in Madrid – next to Atlético de Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium. It will also offer a surf academy, equipment rental and surf store, restaurant areas and additional recreational activities including hot tubs, a playground and a pump track.