Broadwater Park in Farncombe, Surrey is undergoing long-term planning work by Waverley Borough Council, with a bike park proposal for the former golf course recently highlighted in local media alongside other potential future uses.

What we know

Broadwater Park includes land that previously operated as a golf course before closing in 2018. The site sits on a former landfill, and the council has stated that significant investigation and safety work is required before any new uses can be brought forward.

In early 2023, the council carried out community engagement to gather views on how the land should be used in the future. Nearly 2,000 responses were received. Suggestions included quiet green space and biodiversity improvements, a café or kiosk with toilets, dog walking areas, and facilities for cycling and skating.

Since then, work has focused on understanding the condition of the site. This has included investigations into landfill boundaries and depth, landfill content, gas emission risks, and ground and surface water conditions. Vegetation clearance took place in November 2024 to allow inspection of existing boreholes, with landfill monitoring and further site investigations continuing throughout 2025.

The council has said that, due to the complexity of developing a former landfill site, its current estimate is that part of Broadwater Park could reopen between 2030 and 2031. Any future plans will depend on the outcome of the technical work and will require further formal permissions and public consultation.

Interest in a community cycle and skate park on part of the former golf course was reported by BBC News. The BBC article highlighted a proposal from local resident Steve Farmer, who said he wants to create a community cycle park in memory of his late wife, Laura, who died 18 months ago. According to the BBC, Farmer has said he hopes the space could give young people an outlet and that he is exploring ways the project might be funded, including community support and grants.

A model that has been used elsewhere

While no decisions have been made at Broadwater Park, the reuse of former or under-used golf course land for urban cycling facilities has precedent in the UK. Examples include Newbold Comyn Cycle Hub, Northampton Bike Park, and Swan Pool & Hill Top Bike Park in Sandwell, all of which sit on or incorporate land that previously formed part of golf courses.

These sites show one way in which large, managed landscapes have been adapted for cycling, alongside other park uses. They are cited here as examples of existing facilities, not as an indication of what will happen at Broadwater Park.

What we don’t know

• Whether a cycle or skate park will form part of the final plan for Broadwater Park.
• What type, size, or layout of cycling or skate facilities might be proposed.
• Who would fund, deliver, or manage any future cycling or skate facilities.
• When design options will be published.
• When, or if, planning applications will be submitted.

Over to the community

• If a bike park or skate facility was developed at Broadwater Park, would you expect to use it, and what would you want it to include?
• What can be learned from other bike parks developed on former golf course land, and what should be done differently?