Hounslow could become home to the only surfing lake in south east England, under plans for a new children's adventure park.
The company behind Hobbledown in Epsom, which includes a children's zoo, play areas and a high-rope adventure course, wants to open a similar facility on the site of Hounslow Heath Golf Course.
The plans, which have been submitted to Hounslow Council by Kidspace Adventure Holdings, also include an artificial surfing lake to the north of the adventure park in Staines Road, which the applicant claims would be only the third such facility in the UK.
Under the plans, the existing 18-hole council-owned golf course would be replaced with a nine-hole pitch-and-putt course and driving range, as well as an adventure golf course complete with model dinosaurs and a mini waterfall.
The rest of the 120-acre site would accommodate the Hobblers Heath adventure park, including a zoo with animals like meerkats and wallabies, and a nursery to the south of Staines Road, and to the north a surfing lake and visitor centre.
The surfing lake, adventure park and golf course would be run separately and between them are expected to attract 555,000 visitors a year.
Kidspace had previously estimated there would be 280,000 visitors, but this was before plans for the surfing lake were revealed.
There would be 500 parking spaces on the adventure park site, including overflow spaces, and a total of 400 spaces for the surfing lake, which would also host other watersports.
The closest stations would be Feltham train station and Hounslow West tube station, both of which are just over a mile away by foot.
Kidspace estimates the attractions would employ a total of 234 staff between them.
Its application states: "The development will retain a leisure use on the existing golf club site (including the retention of significant, upgraded golfing facilities), but will open the site up to much wider leisure activities.
"In doing so, it will transform an underused leisure resource into a high quality leisure destination, with significant economic benefits for Hounslow."
Kidspace says existing trees will be kept and the plans will have little impact on the landscape, with only a handful of buildings and "unobtrusive" natural play equipment.
It also promises a competitively priced annual pass for local residents, along with discounts for clubs and societies in the area, and says the site will host regular events like falconry displays and historical re-enactments.
Should the adventure park be approved it is expected to open in early 2017. Although the planning application also comprises the surfing lake, a separate detailed application for this would be required if the adventure park gets the go-ahead.
Hounslow Council, which said the golf club was underused, has already granted Kidspace a 125-year lease for the land.
June Stewart, of Sparrow Drive Farm, Feltham, said she was concerned about the plans, which she feared would increase traffic and potentially threaten the future of Hounslow Urban Farm, among other issues.
