Construction of Europe’s largest artificial wave pool in Madrid’s San Blas-Canillejas district has sparked a dispute over water consumption, legal status and public funds. The 23,000-square-metre lagoon, planned beside the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as part of Atlético de Madrid’s wider Ciudad del Deporte development, is expected to require 30,000 cubic metres of potable water. Environmental groups say annual evaporation could exceed the lagoon’s total volume.
Local residents and environmentalists have voiced strong opposition, citing estimates that annual evaporation could reach 32,200 cubic metres, about 7% more than the lagoon’s volume. Daily losses in summer could reach 184,000 litres. Project descriptions name Gemswell Surf Madrid as the operator and Wavegarden as the technology provider. The facility is designed to produce more than 20 types of waves, approximately two to three metres high, and accommodate up to 120 surfers at a time. Plans also include around 5,000 square metres of real sand, four infinity pools, a surf school, specialist retail and leisure spaces, and approximately 3,000 square metres of restaurant space. The development is projected to attract about 500,000 visitors a year and create more than 100 jobs.
The wave pool is one part of a broader sports and leisure programme. Ciudad del Deporte has been reported as an approximately €800 million development, with Atlético contributing roughly €200 million and most of the remaining investment expected to come from private capital. Other planned facilities include a 5,500-seat mini-stadium, five training pitches, golf facilities, municipal sports amenities and a major car park. The reported €60 million cost covers the wave pool, while the wider investment figure applies to the overall development. The pool also includes a reported €15.7 million contribution from the European Union’s Next Generation funds, earmarked for sustainable tourism.
Project descriptions have placed the wave facility’s opening in spring 2027. Atlético’s wider construction schedule, reported in October 2026, puts the wave pool, golf centre, high-performance facilities, municipal sports amenities and a major car park in the summer 2027 delivery programme. The broader development is scheduled to run through 2030. A final multipurpose phase intended to host major music events is planned for 2030. The wider programme also includes a pedestrian bridge intended to connect a future railway station with the stadium. Critics argue the complex will increase traffic and noise while straining local infrastructure. They also say restrictions on using recycled water for recreational purposes will leave the project dependent on potable supplies.
Legal uncertainty surrounds the development after a court annulled the special urban plan that allowed the land transfer to Atlético de Madrid. The city council has appealed, but the court cited the lack of an environmental impact assessment as a basic reason for the annulment. Construction continues because no injunction was requested to halt the works. Project promoters Gemswell Surf Madrid maintain that the pool is unaffected by the ruling, while city planning records indicate otherwise.
The project’s backers, including Buenavista Infrastructure and the European Investment Bank, insist that all funding criteria have been met. They say technical measures, including advanced waterproofing, drainage systems and splash barriers, will minimise water loss. The Ministry of Economy says that if the annulment is upheld, a detailed study will determine the site’s future. Atlético de Madrid says the court ruling does not refer to the need for a strategic environmental assessment, although the judgment addresses this requirement repeatedly.
Neighbourhood associations such as Las Musas - Las Rosas fear the area will become a commercial hub rather than a sports centre. They are concerned about parking shortages and increased congestion. Residents recall promises of a major public sports facility and a metropolitan forest, but say they now face more urban challenges than people living in central Madrid. Political opposition on the city council has also criticised the project, calling for more public water facilities and questioning the focus on large-scale private developments. Socialist councillor Antonio Giraldo says Madrid has only 25 public pools for 3.5 million people and argues that public investment should prioritise accessible solutions.
Large-scale entertainment projects in Spain have previously prompted debate over their economic and environmental impact. Major international productions, including Disney’s filming in Alicante, have brought impressive investment to regions such as Valencia, as reported in this coverage of Ciudad de la Luz’s change. The Madrid wave pool case highlights tensions between urban development, environmental sustainability and local communities’ expectations.
Spain’s ongoing drought and water scarcity add to the debate. The country has faced repeated calls to improve water management and prioritise sustainable tourism. The controversy in San Blas-Canillejas reflects the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental responsibility and local needs as climate pressures intensify across the Iberian Peninsula.
