News on Lee Valley Ice Centre

Over 80% positive responses for new Olympic-sized twin rink venue to replace ageing Lee Valley Ice Centre

An overwhelmingly positive response has been received for major plans to create a stunning new ice skating destination in east London. The sustainably designed twin rink ice centre would replace the ageing Lee Valley Ice Centre on its current site, which is at risk of closure.

Over 80% of responses to the consultation positively supported the plans for a new ice centre, which include a new café, gym, dance studio, community spaces and environmental enhancements to the surrounding landscape. A total of 1,360 contributions were received on the dedicated digital engagement platform, which asked users for their views on the proposals, as well as what areas should be prioritised for the new ice centre as the plans progress. Key feedback included:

The new centre, which would cost around £30 million, would double the amount of ice currently available and would also expand the offer to include a gym and dance studio. It would operate in an entirely new way, acting as a gateway to award winning nearby open spaces of Lee Valley Regional Park. The inclusion of a café, open to people visiting the nearby marshes and community spaces would open up the centre to everyone, providing a setting off point for walkers, runners and cyclists.

The surrounding landscape would be transformed, replacing areas largely devoid of ecological value with significant native planting. This would not only increase the wildlife in the area but would also be a vast aesthetic improvement. The new venue would be designed with sustainability at its heart, with innovative energy, construction and water re-use methods a key part of the designs.

LVRPA is aiming to submit a planning application for the new ice centre in the coming months, with a view to commencing construction in early 2021 should planning permission be received.

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority chief executive Shaun Dawson said:

“We are delighted to have received overwhelmingly positive responses to our new venue from local stakeholders, ice users and the community.

“We know how vital both Lee Valley Ice Centre and the wider opportunities for leisure and physical activity are in this part of London.

“We’re proposing a fantastic new ice centre, which would enable many more people to get active on the ice, as well as use the gym, dance studios, café and community spaces. We believe these opportunities would benefit people from the local Waltham Forest and Hackney communities, across the capital and from the wider region.

“We will continue to engage with the community and look forward to reporting back on how the public’s views have helped shape our proposals ahead of planning submission in October.”

Neil Mattinson, Director at landscape architect LDA Design, commented:

“The enhancement of the biodiversity and landscape surrounding the site are at the heart of our plans for Lee Valley Ice Centre. The creation of new habitats and significant ecological enhancement will protect existing wildlife and flora as well as encourage a greater bio-diverse range of native species to the site and its surroundings.”

Jess, 20, has been skating at Lee Valley Ice Centre for more than 10 years. She shared what Lee Valley Ice Centre means to her:

“I think Lee Valley Ice Centre is so important not just for the skaters but also the wider community, especially in east London, where the ice centre is. It provides a safe and fun environment for young people to be able to meet and socialise – there aren’t many other options like that for children these days.”

Westminster House Youth Club’s Director, Katie Worthington said:

“Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Community Access Fund has enabled us to come from Peckham to visit Lee Valley Ice Centre on numerous occasions, giving our young people the opportunity to try ice skating, in many cases for the first time. Being able to bring our young people to the centre is really important because it opens their eyes to sports and activities, they otherwise would never be able to access or have exposure to. Having a brand new facility with two ice rinks will give the community even more opportunities to get active.”

Irfan Akhtar, Assistant general secretary at the Waltham Forest Islamic Association, said:

“We feel the enhancements planned for the new ice centre, as well as being aesthetically pleasing on the outside, will encourage many people to use the facility. Opening up the centre to non-ice rink users via the café is another good idea that should maximise use of the new facility. All this ties in with the Borough’s drive for healthy living, community cohesion and celebrating the best of what makes us strong: our diversity.”

The public consultation on the plans for a new twin rink Lee Valley Centre was launched on 26 June 2019 and concluded earlier this week on 1 September 2019. During this period, members of the public were invited to have their say on the plans by visiting the website, www.icecentreredevelopment.com or dropping in to one of four public events that took place across Waltham Forest and Hackney.

For any queries about the new plans or the consultation, members of the public can get in touch via LVIC@communitycomms.co.uk or 0800 093 1716.