London could soon be the first capital in the world to offer inland surfing.

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has joined with inland surfing specialists The Wave to pump £40m into he park.

The landowner and company are developing a planning application to build a wave producing machine on land next to the centre at Edmonton, North London.

The concept is suitable for first timers and pro-surfers training for the Olympics and will generate up to 1,000 waves per hour, with heights starting at 50cm and peaking at almost 2m.

If plans are approved by the London Borough of Enfield and the Mayor of London, The Wave London would offer a new purpose-built surfing lake and could feature other elements, such as a high-performance surfing and skateboarding centre, health and rehabilitation, cycle trails, high ropes, and glamping accommodation.

The existing lake in the north of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex will not be affected by the new scheme.

Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said: “These proposals have the potential to create a stunning new regional leisure hub bringing health, fitness, sport and outdoor activities to millions of people along with many new jobs.

“This leisure development would complement our existing world class sports venues up and down the 26-mile-long Regional Park, including our three hugely popular London 2012 legacy venues providing the best cycling, white water, hockey and tennis opportunities to be found anywhere.

“Lee Valley Leisure Complex was once a sewage works and rubbish dumps.

"A generation ago we built what was then Europe’s largest leisure centre.

"Now we hope to bring inland surfing here to create an outstanding new leisure destination for the capital and the region. This marks another exciting chapter in the history of the Lee Valley.”