The Wave: Bristol

Our Idea:

The Wave: Bristol will be the only facility of its kind in the world. It will be set in beautiful surroundings and offering activities that will appeal to visitors of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The centre piece will be a large freshwater lagoon with embedded technology that produces perfect waves for surfing, wave riding and having fun. The Wave will provide a range of land-based activities, to create a unique attraction that will also offer onsite accommodation, education and leisure facilities.

The technology will produce waves that can be enjoyed by all abilities, from complete beginners right up to professional/competitive surfers. Tuition and coaching will be available at every level and The Wave: Bristol will be able to host local, national and international surfing competitions as well as being an elite training facility. The lake can also be used for swimming, triathlons, kayaking and a separate natural swimming pool will allow visitors to swim, gain confidence or just have fun in the water. Other facilities will include a café and covered seating area, beautiful gardens/woodlands, education/ ecology centre, conference facilities, yoga/pilates classes, picnic and viewing areas, a surf shop, equipment hire and high quality camping.

Sustainability is in the DNA of this vision and The Wave will adhere to a triple bottom line mandate whereby it will seek to balance the financial, social and environmental profit/loss. (Full Sustainability Policy is available online www.the-wave.co.uk)page1image13664 

We instinctively know that being in green open space and water is good for the body, mind and soul. This is something we are passionate about sharing. We believe we can contribute to local communities and society by tackling some of these issues:

Lack of intergenerational mixing Lack of engagement with nature

Too much TV/computers

A space where mixed abilities can exercise and have fun

Disconnected from adventure and ability to assess manage risk

Lack of support for troubled kids, giving a second chance, confidence building

Increased obesity and poor diet

Improve educational resources around sustainability, ecology, environment, water conservation and many other topics

Lack of new and fun outdoor space

A place of engaging beauty to relax, contemplate and feel safe Lack of cross-cultural mixing 

 

We are passionate about delivering this idea and have secured land, are about to submit a planning application and looking for public support to see our ambitions realised.

 

Bristol has a great heritage of engineering, world firsts and delivering them "Bristol Fashion". We want to contribute to this legacy in a fun and meaningful way.

 

Why the contribution is important

It is important because being a potential world first, The Wave could be delivered to  Bristol in a year when we are wanting to deliver a green capital and many other key celebrations in 2015. It's our chance to show the world what a great place Bristol is. We can show how we have taken a troubled history and turned it on it's head and make a diverse, thoughtful community that can make things happen in the right way.

 

Too many developments get taken to a different city because of money and politics. We are Bristol guys, delivering a project which oozes Bristol from its DNA.

Fun, thoughful and sustainable. That is important. That is Bristol.

by user817201 on November 22, 2013 at 04:34PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 84 votes

Comments

  • Posted by user734334 November 22, 2013 at 16:53

    Obviously a fab idea but where is this lake going go and who will be investing in this? I might increase my rating if I knew the answer to these questions.

  • Posted by user133575 November 25, 2013 at 08:12

    This is a fantastic idea and has so many benefits. It really is a no-brainer.

  • Posted by user681880 November 26, 2013 at 15:25

    have seen this idea before proposed for the Portway and then a site in South Glos? Is it not progressing anyway?

  • Posted by user338616 November 27, 2013 at 16:34

    Wheres the funding coming from.
    Nice idea though

  • Posted by user817201 December 05, 2013 at 16:03

    Funding coming from a mix of private investment and community investment. The more the community investment...the greater the social uplift.

  • Posted by user586231 December 05, 2013 at 16:41

    This would be such a great accolade for Bristol! Go for it guys - something for everybody by the sounds of it!

  • Posted by user301589 December 05, 2013 at 16:57

    Great idea with a huge range of benefits! Being able to take an 'extreme' sport into a controlled setting with maximise opportunities for everyone to 'give it a go'. The encompassing educational and environmental centre will be especially good use of space making this so much more than just a sporting facility.

  • Posted by user114123 December 05, 2013 at 17:08

    This is agreat idea. There are thousands of active and aspiring surfers who would flock to this facility. It has a great business model. It will bring substantial revenue to the area. I know I will use it and I know loads of others too.the environmental impact of these developments is quite low. Great use of timd, land and money.

  • Posted by user207053 December 05, 2013 at 17:42

    This is such a cool project, i have heard so many great things about the Wave Garden in San Sebastián, Spain. To see that Bristol has the opportunity to hold something like this is truely amazing!!!
    surfing is still a very small sport but like many others is on the rise. for some people finding a good surf break can take hours or even days to finally find a nice spot. Something this scale would attract people all over the country & across the world that would really put Bristol on the map.
    Having a look at the plans around The Wave itself are really promising too, not only will it provide AMAZING surf it has a the opportunity to bring together a whole community of people. there is also a massive window for people to engage with nature which is equally amazing & is a perfect way for people to interact outside rather than sit indoors.
    I would love to see this project happen....

  • Posted by user380202 December 05, 2013 at 18:05

    Brilliant idea for an amazing outdoor space for everyone to enjoy.

  • Posted by user289167 December 05, 2013 at 21:59

    This is such a great project on so many levels!!

  • Posted by user244489 December 06, 2013 at 07:48

    Great idea. Bristol and the surrounding south west area has a massive surfing community and so I think it will get a huge following once it's up and running. Please let Bristol be at the forefront of this idea and let the other cities follow us for once. Hugh

  • Posted by user706489 December 06, 2013 at 11:38

    Will be great to see this go ahead, it has funding already so 'oven ready' but perhaps this might be about adding some of the additional support to help kids from all parts of Bristol access it.

  • Posted by user287142 December 10, 2013 at 10:47

    Brilliant idea! Can't wait for it to open!

  • Posted by user921012 December 10, 2013 at 11:32

    This is a brilliant idea - Bristol is perfectly located for such a project: loads of locals would use it, and it would be easily accessible for people from all over the country too. What a great way to get children involved in a wonderful sport and to encourage a greater love of nature and the outdoors. The Wave would also be BRILLIANT for enabling people with disabilities to try out a really exciting sport - what's not to like?

  • Posted by user950389 December 10, 2013 at 11:36

    Superb idea, cannot support this enough. This will bring enormous benefits to Bristol and the local communities as a centre to learn/play/think, and a first for the UK. I just hope they make the wave a touch bigger ;-) very exciting but will it happen?...

  • Posted by user765965 December 10, 2013 at 11:55

    Great idea and hope it comes to fruition. Is there any potential money available from SportEngland?

  • Posted by user145346 December 10, 2013 at 12:16

    This is such an exciting project. Having gone to see the plans the development team have done a fantatsic job in aspiring to bring a coastal sport inland and accessible for all to enjoy.

  • Posted by user905101 December 10, 2013 at 12:32

    This is a brilliant idea can't wait to take the kids to a surfing environment where they can progress quickly and get the most out of a days surfing.

  • Posted by user402713 December 10, 2013 at 13:21

    This is an excellent idea, I know so many people who would use this. There is a huge surf community already in the south west. Great use of time and resources, with plenty of benefits for the wider community.

  • Posted by user562617 December 10, 2013 at 16:01

    Great, great idea!

  • Posted by user169740 December 10, 2013 at 18:45

    A few years back when I first meet Nick, he said he had an idea that would blow my mind. I already knew about the wave garden prototype in northern Spain and was already a fan of the concept, but when Nick told me he wanted to bring it to Bristol I was totally amazed. For surfing in the UK this will be a real game change. For the first time surfing will be opened up to people who might never had the opportunity to enjoy this brilliant activity that is both great for body and soul. The benefits other than being brilliant fun are well documented. I would love to be involved in organising the worlds first inland international surf comp. Imagine people from around the world visiting Bristol for the first time. Good luck guys

  • Posted by user715391 December 10, 2013 at 23:22

    This is brilliant. I live in Bath, I love surfing, my wife loves shopping. I can stop off at this site with my kids, she can pop down the road to Cribbs Causeway to spend some money.

    I also have family in France who are incredibly excited about this project. They will be over here in a flash once it's completed.

  • Posted by user446064 December 10, 2013 at 23:28

    Surfing is so hot right now. This is a fantastic idea. Promoting an amazing, healthy, life-affirming pastime in a natural, sustainable way. Will be brilliant for Bristol. Very excited to see this happen.

  • Posted by user172639 December 11, 2013 at 01:05

    what is generating the wave?

  • Posted by user988302 December 12, 2013 at 11:23

    Visit Bournemouth before you even think of implementing this idea. They spent £3 millions on theirs and it doesn't work............an expensive mistake and a joke.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-22436832

  • Posted by user817201 December 16, 2013 at 07:11

    Thanks Andrew, Bournemouth was a very bad spend of money on so many levels. Take some time to research the proposal and you will see this is not even in the same ball park as an idea.

  • Posted by user656996 December 17, 2013 at 19:29

    I am so excited about this! Can't wait to take the family along, I can feel in my bones that this will happen. Mind you I won't get in the water myself. I'll do some gardening or something. Brrr.

  • Posted by user190048 January 07, 2014 at 20:14

    Awesome idea! love that it caters for so many abilities and offers heaps of different activities on land and water! will be an amazing place to visit!

  • Posted by user331008 January 30, 2014 at 12:06

    Great idea, hope it all works out:)

  • Posted by user833177 January 30, 2014 at 12:10

    This will be a massive asset to the Bristol and South Glos regions.

    Such a fantastic project!

  • Posted by user375471 January 30, 2014 at 12:20

    I love this proposal - its innovative and exciting. Id definitely use it and its also a great flagship project for the city region.

  • Posted by user563915 January 30, 2014 at 12:27

    This is a clever idea. Take something abstract, cool, cross generational and deliver social change through a sound financial business. Bristol Fashion!

  • Posted by user499805 January 30, 2014 at 13:20

    Sounds like a great idea, can't wait to try it!

  • Posted by user655014 January 30, 2014 at 14:38

    This will be a genuine UK first and the guys behind it are real visionaries. The Wave: Bristol and the ethos behind it represents everything that Bristol claims to be - innovative, unorthodox and creative. We should all get behind them to make it happen.

  • Posted by user191287 January 30, 2014 at 16:40

    I like Michadafish's comment - I can feel it in my bones too

  • Posted by user503683 January 30, 2014 at 17:13

    Wonderful idea in so many ways. I agree with everything!

  • Posted by user270639 January 30, 2014 at 19:43

    Bristol: Lets get this built!

  • Posted by user622286 January 30, 2014 at 21:13

    A World first for Bristol & a great resource for all sorts of local people.

  • Posted by user729694 January 31, 2014 at 00:21

    How exciting to watch such a fabulous and dynamic project grow and gain momentum. It belongs to Bristol, what a treat to have such a gem where everyone has a space to experience the things that make them feel energised and alive and to connect with those around them. I Iove the fact that The Wave will be sustainable on all accounts ~ financial, social and environmental. With such a vision this project deserves every success that will come its way. So excited to come and play and bring friends along too!

  • Posted by user163489 January 31, 2014 at 08:33

    Wonderful, inspiring, golden project for Bristol. Fantastic idea!

  • Posted by user573161 January 31, 2014 at 09:50

    Incredible for Bristol and everyone living here with the best team to pull it off. Cant wait to try it out and get the kids surfing. All very exciting.

  • Posted by user382653 January 31, 2014 at 14:15

    I cannot wait for this to be up and running, it seems to have been very well planned and when you look at how popular tourist attractions are with far less to offer there is no doubt that this will be a success. Bristol is crying out for something like this and I'm sure other areas of the UK would benefit from the same.

  • Posted by user108875 February 02, 2014 at 19:32

    This is such a great idea on so many levels and will benefit so many people in so many ways. We must do it!!

  • Posted by user256753 February 02, 2014 at 21:18

    Great idea and solid planning. This will put Bristol on the map and make it an even greater place to live!

  • Posted by user424169 February 03, 2014 at 11:35

    This would be amazing for Bristol, I grew up by the sea and surfing was the main sport I participated in as a youngster. This is definitely something I'd make use of at least a couple of times a month

  • Posted by user119326 February 04, 2014 at 09:13

    Great Idea, hope it is situated for easy access and hope the funding is forth coming

  • Posted by user556183 February 04, 2014 at 09:24

    I have followed you guys for the past 3 years ish... I can not wait to ride it!!!! Good luck and crack on :) fantastic venue for Bristol and the UK!!!!!

  • Posted by user661738 February 04, 2014 at 13:34

    This project works on so many different levels and will have far reaching benefits for Bristol and beyond. The guys behind it are brimming with passion and have the drive to make it a reality - so exciting for the city!

  • Posted by user724027 February 04, 2014 at 21:17

    Incredible idea, really can't wait for this to be complete. It will and a new dimension of brilliance to the city of Bristol! Come on guys!

  • Posted by user878410 February 07, 2014 at 16:03

    Possibly one of the best ideas I have seen!! Cant wait! Will bring so much to Bristol and give so much back to local communities! It will especially help local surfers who have to travel to Wales and Cornwall as it's right on our doorsteps! Love it and cant wait!!

  • Posted by user903826 February 15, 2014 at 14:12

    In the Underfall Yard at the west end of the harbour are a series of now disused beam engines that were used to produce the hydrolic pressure to operate the lock gates , sluices and bridges throughout the docks (750psi).

    They are still operational , although of course would need a maintenance programme .

    I believe this available power could be utilised providing the pipe work carrying the water was not too long . The site of the old 'White City' is perhaps within the pumps range .
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