‘Once-in-a-generation chance’: Crowdfunder for wild swimming pond in East London smashes past the halfway mark

An illustration of the vision for the site. Image: courtesy ELWP

A crowdfunder to build London’s first community-owned natural swimming pond has sailed through the halfway mark of its target in a fraction of the time expected.

The East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) is a vision for the currently disused Thames Water depot, spanning a vast 5.68 hectares.

The volunteer-led campaign is hoping to raise £500,000 in its initial phase, and attracted £100,000 in its first few days.

It hit an impressive £250,000 earlier this month, thanks to pledges by more than 2,000 donors since crowdfunding began in June. The fund has since reached more than £270,000.

Chair of East London Waterworks Park, Abigail Woodman, explained: “We want to raise £3 million within the next year to buy the land, before we miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference to our communities.

“With your support, we can raise £1 million directly through crowdfunding. If we can achieve this, we have every reason to believe it will unlock further funding of £2 million from corporate donations and grant funding.”

The site volunteers are hoping to purchase, captured using a drone. Photograph: Jonathan Perugia

The project would provide the people of Hackney and Waltham Forest with a place to splash around in the wild swimming pools, which would be the first built in London since Hampstead Ponds in 1777.

The sustainably-made ponds will cover approximately 5,000 square metres and allow more than 1,000 visitors to swim for free every day.

If realised, the plans will also provide space for scientific research, arts, and even a make-and-repair cafe.

The park is also set to become the largest community rewilding plot bought from the UK government, creating homes for rare butterflies, invertebrates, bats and birds.

On top of that, it would become the first set of public swimming ponds in the UK to be filled with rainwater that is naturally kept clean by aquatic plants.

Grace Williams, leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “The council has been actively and positively engaging with the group through the area regeneration delivery team, providing early feedback on their vision and seeking their views of the needs in the wider area through the engagement on the Lea Bridge area framework.

“The council would have a role as the local planning authority in the future if any proposals for the site are formalised through a planning application.”

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