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Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Board gives final approvals: Construction work due to start this summer
We wanted to let you know that our Board has given approval for work to start on the transformation of Lee Valley Ice Centre into a new world class venue. They agreed a funding package which is now being sent to Government for its approval – something required by the Act of Parliament which governs the Park Authority. Our Board’s decision means that the new venue which will be built in one phase and will open around a year earlier than we had first planned.
Designed by award-winning FaulknerBrowns Architects, the £30m regional centre will be the only venue of its kind in the south-east of England, and one of only three Olympic-sized twin rinks in the UK.
It will be built on the site of the current venue in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton and will have two Olympic sized rinks side by side – both larger than the rink at the current centre which will hugely increase our capacity. It will also have:
The new development will create a highly sustainable centre. It will be accompanied by significant improvements to the environment around the centre through new tree planting, some green roofs, reedbeds, native meadows and native shrub planting. The enhancements will result in a 30% increase in biodiversity
The current venue, in a normal year, attracts 279,000 visitors. The new Lee Valley Ice Centre is expected to attract 500,000 users annually, bring £1.5m of extra investment to the area, and around 45 jobs.
Because of Government Coronavirus restrictions, Lee Valley Ice Centre is currently closed except to under 18s who are being coached and to clubs. This will, subject to the Government’s lockdown roadmap, hopefully expand to over 18s who are being coached on 17 May. The current centre will then close completely on 27 June. Construction will last around 15 months, and we expect to open the new centre in October 2022.
We hope the new venue will become a place where people will come not only to skate, but to socialise and relax, and will be a meeting point for walkers, runners, cyclists and families using the surrounding green space.
We’ve already been in touch with coaches and clubs based at Lee Valley Ice Centre and are working with them to put in place a package of support to help them carry on with their training during the 15 month construction period.
Moving forward, email updates about the new Lee Valley Ice Centre will no longer be provided via this Commonplace website - instead, you can sign up to the new email list, managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, by clicking here and ticking ice skating .
Plans submitted for £30 million regional ice centre in east London
London’s first ever Olympic-sized twin-pad venue set to boost sports and leisure opportunities for communities across the region
Plans for an all-new ice sports venue in East London, which would accommodate more than half a million visits a year and increase community participation in physical activity, have been submitted to Waltham Forest Council. The new venue would replace the popular current single-pad Lee Valley Ice Centre which, after 34 years of use, is nearing the end of its operational life and struggling to meet demand. Ice skating in east London will be lost unless the venue is replaced.
If the plans submitted by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) are approved, the new Lee Valley Ice Centre – on the site of the current centre on Lea Bridge Road, Leyton - will become the first twin-pad venue in the south of England, with two Olympic size ice rinks, a new gym and exercise studio open to everyone. In addition to accommodating a range of sports for all ages and abilities, from ice skating to ice hockey to curling, visitors would also be able to enjoy the venue’s new cafés and community spaces.
The new centre has been sensitively designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects to improve, enhance and create a landscape that is attractive to both visitors to the centre and those visiting the surrounding parkland. The designs also have sustainability at the heart with a significant amount of native planting and innovative energy, construction and water re-use methods.
The cost of physical inactivity in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest and Hackney is £107 million each year. Socio-economic research commissioned by LVRPA shows that the twin-pad centre would produce an estimated annual health benefit of at least £16.2 million, due to more people being physically active at the centre and improved social cohesion with all ages from all communities enjoying the new venue. It would also help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across the local boroughs through the provision of additional ice activities and community programmes for young people, which lessen social exclusion and create a safe space for the whole community.
The current Lee Valley Ice Centre is one of the most popular ice-skating venues in the UK. It is open seven days a week, for up to 19 hours a day, and accommodates around 279,000 visits a year from across London and the wider region. Around a third of visitors are from Waltham Forest and Hackney.
Almost a third of skaters at the current Lee Valley Ice Centre are from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background, and women and girls make up around 60% of visitors – groups which are often underrepresented in sport and physical activity [1] . The proposed new centre with its two ice rinks would provide twice the ice for communities to participate in sport, with its position as the first twin-pad in London also attracting regional and national audiences, along with a busy regional, national and international event programme.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority chief executive Shaun Dawson said:
“We’ve taken our time to listen to communities and ensure that the feedback they have given us has been incorporated into the designs.
“This scheme would create a new Lee Valley Ice Centre that would be somewhere the whole community feels welcome. It is vital that this scheme is given the green light, otherwise this wonderful community activity will be lost for good. We are confident we have demonstrated that the new centre will not only provide an exciting place for young people to get involved in sport but will also enhance the physical and mental health of people of all ages, locally and from across the region. The improved landscape will better open up the green space around the centre for everyone to enjoy.”
The plans have received overwhelming support from the local community. There were a total of 1,360 responses to the consultation over the summer in 2019 and over 80% of responses supported plans for the all-new ice centre, which include:
Should the application be approved, LVRPA aims to begin construction mid-2021.
17-year-old Carlos, who has been skating at the centre since he was three years old, said:
“Lee Valley Ice Centre has been a massive part of my life for the past 14 years. Whether it’s been skating or volunteering, I’ve always felt part of the community at the centre. It’s also important for the community - there are a lot of clubs that use the ice centre. It has given me a platform to meet many like-minded people and has given me confidence and has allowed me to keep fit and physically healthy. I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Eddie Joseph, Coach at Lee Valley Lions Junior Ice Hockey Club, said:
“Working with young people at the centre is amazing, it’s great to see young people from aged 4 up to 18 getting active and really committing to a sport. We’ve had some great success and I’ve seen first-hand the impact that this can have on the lives of young people. The planned new ice centre will allow clubs like us to reach even more people in the local area, which can only be seen as a good thing.”
To show their support for the new Lee Valley Ice Centre, members of the public can respond to the formal consultation being run by the London Borough of Waltham Forest by emailing dmconsultations@walthamforest.gov.uk , quoting #194162 to provide your feedback.
Find out more about the plans at www.icecentreredevelopment.com , or get in touch with the consultation team on LVIC@communitycomms.co.uk or 0800 093 1716.
Huge appetite for brand-new ice skating destination for London
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.
Lee Valley Ice Centre team attending Chingfest!
For our final public consultation event on plans for a brand-new Lee Valley Ice Centre, we’ll be attending free family music festival Chingfest this Saturday.
Chingfest celebrates the very best of homegrown musical talent as part of Waltham Forest’s London Borough of Culture 2019 programme. The free festival will have a plethora of big names grace the stage over the weekend, including singer-songwriter Nao.
Our exhibition will showcase the plans for a twin rink ice centre and our team will be on hand to answer any questions, before the consultation closes on 1 September.
Details of the event can be found below:
Event: Chingfest
Date and time: Saturday 31 August, 13.00 - 19.00
Address: Ridgeway Park, Old Church Road, London E4 6RS
The new twin rink centre would provide an expanded offer, doubling the amount of ice and provide new facilities including a café, gym, dance studio and community spaces for everyone to enjoy. The sustainable design would also enhance the surrounding areas and provide a gateway to Leyton Marsh for walkers, runners and cyclists.
Have your say on the website
With only a matter of days to go until the consultation closes on 1 September, we really want to hear your views on the plans for the centre.
Hundreds of people have already given their views on the new proposals via the website icecentreredevelopment.com .
To find out more about the plans and give your views before 1 September, click ' Have Your Say '.
Members of the public can also drop into Lee Valley Ice Centre itself to see visuals of the new proposals until the close of the consultation.
Lee Valley Ice Centre team visiting Ridley Road Market
Continuing our summer of public consultation on plans for a brand new Lee Valley Ice Centre, we’ll be attending the vibrant Ridley Road Market in Hackney this Thursday.
Ridley Road Market has been operating in the heart of Dalston for over 100 years and currently offers over 150 stalls. Our exhibition will showcase the plans for a twin rink ice centre and our team will be on hand to answer any questions.
Details of the event can be found below:
Event: Ridley Road Market
Date and time: Thursday 15 August, 9.00 - 17.00
Address: Ridley Road, London, E8 2NP
The new twin rink centre would provide an expanded offer, doubling the amount of ice and provide new facilities including a café, gym, dance studio and community spaces for everyone to enjoy. The sustainable design would also enhance the surrounding areas and provide a gateway to Leyton Marsh for walkers, runners and cyclists.
View of proposed new twin rink Lee Valley Ice Centre from Lea Bridge Road (Artist's impression)
Upcoming consultation events
Following on from this Thursday’s event, we’ll be heading to Chingfest on Saturday 31 August at Ridgeway Park. Chingfest will be our final exhibition event of the summer before the consultation closes on Sunday 1 September.
Members of the public can also drop into Lee Valley Ice Centre itself to see visuals of the new proposals until the close of the consultation.
Have your say on the website
Hundreds of people have already given their views on the new proposals via the website icecentreredevelopment.com .
To find out more about the plans and give your views before 1 September, click ' Have Your Say '.
Lee Valley Ice Centre Dancer to compete against the UK’s top ice dancers on national stage
An Ice Dancer from Lee Valley Ice Centre has successfully made the grade to begin competing on the National Senior Ice Dance circuit, after passing his tests with flying colours.
Aaron Freeman, 22, shone in two national tests in Cardiff to achieve the grade necessary to begin competing at this high level. This is an amazing achievement by Aaron, who is currently coached at the centre by former Winter Olympians Marika and Vitaliy Baranov. Speaking about his latest achievement, Aaron said:
“I’m really pleased to get this test, it’s been a lot of hours training, but all worth it for the positive comments from the judges.”
Coach Marika Baranova was thrilled with Aaron’s performance, commenting:
“Aaron skated so well today. He didn’t miss a beat!”
Aaron and his dance partner Jodie Russell at Lee Valley Ice Centre
Aaron skates with his partner, Jodie Russell, and the pair are part of the Ice Dance Development training group that is based at Lee Valley Ice Centre. The duo train for four hours every weekday morning, with Aaron travelling over an hour to Lee Valley from Gillingham in Kent.
Aaron’s home rink at Lee Valley Ice Centre has been part of the community for 34 years and, excitingly, plans have recently been proposed for the centre to be replaced with a new twin rink ice centre. This would see the capacity of the centre double, with a dedicated rink for competitive skating, as well as improved spectator seating and facilities.
Aaron and Jodie in action training at Lee Valley Ice Centre
Improved competitive facilities will no doubt mean that more and more up and coming skaters like Aaron will come through the ranks to succeed on the national stage.
The proposed new Lee Valley Ice Centre would also be a place for the wider community to get active with a new gym and dance studio, café and community spaces. The landscape surrounding the centre would also be enhanced, opening up access to this green space.
The wider community can find out more and have their say on the plans at www.icecentreredevelopment.com . More detail about the drop-in exhibition events taking place across Waltham Forest and Hackney over the summer can also be found on the About the project page.
Aaron and his Coach Marika Baranova after passing his National test in Cardiff
Exciting day of experiencing South Asian culture: Lee Valley Ice Centre team head to the Waltham Forest Mela
Continuing our summer of public consultation on plans for a brand-new Lee Valley Ice Centre, we’ll be hosting our first event in Waltham Forest, appearing at the Mela this Sunday.
The Mela will have a range of family-friendly activities on offer, such as dancing, a fun fair, spoken word performances and lots of delicious food stalls! Our exhibition will showcase the plans for a twin rink ice centre and our team will be on hand to answer any questions.
Details of the event can be found below:
Event: Waltham Forest Mela
Date and time: Sunday 4 August, 14.00 - 21.00
Address: Leyton Jubilee Park, Seymour Road, London E10 7BL
The plans for a brand-new facility to replace the current Lee Valley Ice Centre were unveiled at the end of June. The existing centre, which is coming to the end of its operational life, has been a pillar of the local community for 34 years.
The new twin rink centre would provide an expanded offer, doubling the amount of ice and provide new facilities including a café, gym, dance studio and community spaces for everyone to enjoy. The sustainable design would also enhance the surrounding areas and provide a gateway to Leyton Marsh for walkers, runners and cyclists.
Upcoming consultation events
Following on from this Sunday’s event, the next opportunity to visit our exhibition will be on Thursday 15 August when the plans will be on display at Ridley Road Market , in Hackney .
The team will then be heading down to Chingfest on Saturday 31 August at Ridgeway Park.
Members of the public can also drop into Lee Valley Ice Centre itself to see visuals of the new proposals throughout the summer.
Have your say on the website
Hundreds of people have already given their views on the new proposals via the website icecentreredevelopment.com . The consultation will close on Sunday 1 September.
To find out more about the plans and give your views, click ' Have Your Say '.
Have your say on how communities could use the proposed new Lee Valley Ice Centre
Plans have recently been announced to redevelop Lee Valley Ice Centre in Leyton into a new twin rink ice centre with a gym, dance studio, café and community spaces. The new venue would also be an attractive gateway to nearby popular green space.
To help understand how local people might use the various facilities at the proposed new ice centre and the impact it may have on the area, a detailed socio-economic study is now taking place.
We need your help!
We want to hear from users of the ice centre and the community about how the proposed new centre could be run.
If you’d like to be involved, please fill out this survey .
The survey is confidential and none of your responses will be published or shared individually with anyone.
We are also running a separate survey on plans for the new twin rink ice centre and would like to know what you think. Please click Have your say to take part.
You can also drop into a number of events taking place over the summer across Waltham Forest and Hackney. More details can be found here .
For more information or if you have any questions on the plans, please contact LVIC@communitycomms.co.uk or call 0800 093 1716.
First public consultation event on new Lee Valley Ice Centre to take place this weekend
The first of a number of public consultation events on the proposed new twin rink Lee Valley Ice Centre will be held this Saturday at Millfields Park Fun Day.
The Fun Day has a range of sports and activities for the whole family. Attendees will have the opportunity to find out more about the proposals for a new ice centre, ask questions and share their thoughts on the plans.
Event: Access to Sport Millfields Fun Day
Date and time: Saturday 20 July, 12.00 - 17.00
Address: Millfields Park North Side, Casimir Road, Clapton E5 9NX
The event is the first of a number of opportunities over the summer for local residents, people who use the current ice centre and members of the community to drop in and learn more about the plans.
The plans for a brand-new facility to replace the current ice centre, which is now 34 years old and coming to the end of its operational life, were unveiled last month.
The new twin rink centre would provide an expanded offer, doubling the amount of ice and provide new facilities including a café, gym, dance studio and community spaces for everyone to enjoy. The sustainable design would also enhance the surrounding areas and provide a gateway to Leyton Marsh for walkers, runners and cyclists.
Upcoming consultation events
Following this Saturday, the next opportunity to have your say on the proposals will be on Sunday 4 August when the plans will be on display at the Waltham Forest Mela , taking place at Leyton Jubilee Park.
The display will then move on to Chingfest on Saturday 31 August at Ridgeway Park.
In addition to these opportunities to see a display about the proposals and chat through them, members of the public can drop into Lee Valley Ice Centre itself to see visuals of the new proposals throughout the summer. See more information on the ‘ About the project ’ page.
Have your say on the website
Hundreds of people have already given their views on the new proposals via the website icecentreredevelopment.com . The consultation will close on Sunday 1 September.
To find out more about the plans and give your views, click ' Have Your Say '.
Proposed new Lee Valley Ice Centre landscape plan
Major new plans unveiled for a brand-new Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has today unveiled plans for a brand-new twin rink Lee Valley Ice Centre to protect the future of ice in the area.
The current Lee Valley Ice Centre is hugely popular but, after 34 years of use, it’s showing its age and has reached its capacity. To ensure that visitors and the next generation of skaters can continue to benefit from this much-loved community hub and give more people the opportunity to participate in ice sports, we are planning a brand-new twin rink ice centre to replace the existing centre, and we’d like to get your views.
View of proposed new twin rink Lee Valley Ice Centre from Lea Bridge Road (Artist's impression. Credit: FaulknerBrowns Architects / LDA Design)
About the plans for a new twin rink ice centre
The new Lee Valley Ice Centre would double the amount of ice 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 Leyton Marsh and other award winning areas of Lee Valley Regional Park. The inclusion of a café and community spaces would open up the centre to all visitors to the area, providing a setting off point for walkers, runners and cyclists.
The surrounding landscape would be transformed, replacing areas 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.
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Illustrative view of landscape at entrance to proposed new Lee Valley Ice Centre and Leyton Marsh (Artist's impression. Credit: FaulknerBrowns Architects / LDA Design)
Get involved and tell us your views!
Tell us what you think! The public consultation will run from today until Sunday 1 September. To find out more about our plans and give your views, visit www.icecentreredevelopment.com
You can also drop in to one of the following events and activities in Waltham Forest and Hackney over the summer to find out more:
In addition, information will be on display at Lee Valley Ice Centre itself and you are welcome to visit the centre to find out more:
For more information or if you have any questions on the plans, please contact LVIC@communitycomms.co.uk or call 0800 093 1716.
Family open day to take place at Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lee Valley Ice Centre is throwing open its doors to the public for a free family open day. The open day, which will take place between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 30 September, will provide the community with the opportunity to learn more about ice sports and what Lee Valley Ice Centre has to offer. As an added bonus the first 400 people to turn up on the day will receive a free pass to come back at another time to skate at Lee Valley Ice Centre.
The open day will also give visitors the chance to find out more about Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s exciting plans to create a brand new venue with two Olympic size ice rinks. The potential new venue will create more opportunities to exercise and socialise in the borough, whether through skating, a new gym or contemporary dance studio. At the open day people will be able to learn more about the plans and get involved in the design process. More information about the redevelopment can also be found on this page and you can have your say here .
The family open day event is free but people are encouraged to register in advance by visiting leevalleyicecentreopenday.eventbrite.co.uk. The open day takes place at Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, London E10 7QL.
Alan Seabrook, General Manager at Vibrant Partnerships which manages Lee Valley Ice Centre, said :
“ The open day will give the community the chance to hear about the plans to build a new ice centre, which will help secure the future of ice skating at Lee Valley for decades to come.
”It will also give visitors a chance to find out more about ice sports and to come back to try ice skating. Many of the people who are now regular skaters at Lee Valley Ice Centre had no idea they’d love ice skating until they tried it – so I’d encourage everyone to come along and give it a go!”
The day is being held to coincide with Countryside Live which is taking place adjacent to Lee Valley Ice Centre. This family friendly event brings the countryside to London and has something for all ages and interests. For more Information and tickets please go to visitleevalley.org.uk .
Lee Valley Ice Centre reopens!
The Lee Valley Ice Centre has reopened its doors to skaters after a short closure over the summer. During this time essential repairs, including construction of a new ice pad – the skating surface, a new cooling system and rink barrier were completed. These works will enable us to ensure we can keep the centre open while we progress our plans for a new twin pad ice centre.
The repairs will create an improved skating surface and the methods we are using means everything we are installing can be reused in both a temporary and permanent new venue, providing value for money.
Commenting on the reopening Alan Seabrook, General Manager at Vibrant Partnerships which manages Lee Valley Ice Centre, said:
“We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to swiftly complete this essential refurbishment of Lee Valley Ice Centre. The new skating surface will make a real difference to our skaters and the refurbishment helps secure the short-term future of Lee Valley Ice Centre.
“With these repair works now completed it is essential that we now turn our attention to securing the long-term future of Lee Valley Ice Centre, which can only be achieve through a new, redeveloped Ice Centre.”
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s ambition is to provide a new centre with two Olympic size ice rinks which would allow the centre to host events at the same time as community activities. A new Lee Valley Ice Centre would secure the future of ice skating in Waltham Forest for decades to come.
If you have any questions regarding the redevelopment of Lee Valley Ice Centre then please email LVIC@communitycomms.co.uk or call 0800 093 1716. If you would like to provide your views the improvements you would like to see for the new Ice Centre then you can contribute on the Have your say page.