You’re far from hard-pressed to find a sauna in east London. There are 48 confirmed sweat-cabins in the region according to SaunaMap's database. Hackney alone boasts three options, including the popular Rooftop Saunas. But there could soon be a fourth place to relax if plans to build a new sauna at the Grade II-listed Stoke Newington Pumping Station are approved.
The site, commonly known as ‘the Castle’ due to its gothic vibes, was built in the 1850s as a solution to London’s growing need for clean water for its rising population, and fell out of use in the late twentieth century. It was rescued from total disrepair in 1995 by being converted into an indoor climbing centre, and it’s now been earmarked by Community Sauna CIC (which runs the nearby Hackney Wick Sauna) to host a new sauna facility suitable for up to 16 people.
According to proposals, there’ll be a dry heated timber sauna structure and two cold showers towards the southern boundary of the climbing centre, but there are no plans for a cold plunge pool at this stage.
Don’t get too excited yet though – there have already been 12 formal objections from residents who claim that noise, glare from LED-lighting, over-development of land set aside for community gardening, and potential crowding of pavements, could all be major issues. The council has stated that adjacent land will not be disturbed, so the gardens will be safe, and that it doesn't predict footfall will rise significantly.
At a planning meeting, Stephen Moorhouse, representing the non-profit, said: ‘Our vision is quite simple: to bring communities together around an activity that improves wellbeing and to make that experience accessible to as many people as possible.’
Town hall planners have recommended that the new sauna site is approved for an initial period of five years, and a final decision is expected in the coming days.
Check out our list of London's best saunas here.
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