Key Points
- Proposal: A proposal has been made for the erection of a new dry sauna cabin within the area of the Grade II* listed Stoke Newington Pumping Station, better known as the ‘Castle’, located in East London.
- Community Sauna CIC: This development has been initiated by the not-for-profit Community Sauna CIC, who are responsible for another site at the Hackney Bath House.
- Facility Details: The facility would consist of a timber cabin containing up to 16 users on a concrete base near the southern perimeter of the Castle Climbing Centre site, including two cold showers, but not a cold plunge bath.
- Community Goal: Stephen Moorhouse, who has spoken on behalf of the Community Sauna CIC during a planning hearing, says that their goal is to unite communities through wellbeing activities.
- There has been some resistance against the project from local people, who have filed 12 formal objections against the construction of the sauna based on concerns over possible noise, over-development of a community gardening plot, glare of LED lighting, and overcrowding of footpaths.
- Planning officials at the town hall have argued in support of the project by stating that there will be no disturbance of community gardening plots, there will be little increase in foot traffic, and there will be no issue of light or privacy.
London (The Londoner News) September 5, 2026 — A historic East London landmark is poised to expand its wellness offerings after a non-profit organisation formally requested council permission to install a new dry-heated sauna cabin on its grounds. Community Sauna CIC has targeted the magnificent Victorian-era Stoke Newington Pumping Station—widely recognised as the ‘Castle’ due to its striking medieval-style architecture—as the next venue for its borough-wide expansion, following the successful establishment of its Hackney Bath House site. The prominent pumping house already serves as home to an established indoor climbing centre, and the introduction of the sauna cabin is intended to further activate the surrounding outdoor grounds for public wellness use.
What Are the Design Details of the Proposed Sauna?
According to details reported by Josef Steen, a local democracy reporter for MyLondon, the development plan encompasses a dedicated timber cabin designed to comfortably host up to 16 people. This structure is proposed to sit atop a concrete slab positioned on the southern boundary of the climbing centre’s grounds. Additionally, the facilities will integrate two cold showers for bathers, although project specifications confirm there will be no cold plunge pool included in this specific phase.
The initiative aims to tap into the surging popularity of wellness and recovery spaces across the capital. Over recent years, similar community-focused sauna complexes have successfully sprouted across various London boroughs, including Hackney, Newham, Southwark, and Waltham Forest.
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Why Is the Community Sauna CIC Pursuing This Project?
Proponents of the scheme emphasize that the primary motivation behind the venture is social cohesion and public health accessibility. As reported by Josef Steen of MyLondon, Stephen Moorhouse addressed a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, September 2, outlining the overarching philosophy driving the proposal.
Speaking on behalf of the Community Sauna CIC, Stephen Moorhouse stated that:
“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.”
The non-profit aims to replicate the communal atmosphere and accessibility model that it has fostered at its other local ventures, providing urban residents with low-cost, health-boosting heat therapy options embedded directly into notable architectural and recreational spaces.
What Are the Local Objections and Resident Concerns?
Despite the enthusiasm from wellness advocates and the non-profit sector, the proposal has encountered resistance from immediate neighbours. As highlighted in coverage by Josef Steen of MyLondon, the planning application received 12 formal objections from local residents living adjacent to the site.
The objecting residents raised a multifaceted array of worries regarding how the new sauna infrastructure might impact their daily lives and local amenities. Primarily, opponents expressed anxiety that the operation of the sauna facilities could generate excessive noise disturbances in a traditionally quiet residential border zone. Furthermore, concerns were raised that the installation might lead to the over-development of an adjacent site designated for community gardening.
Additional grievances included apprehensions regarding potential light pollution, with neighbours arguing that proposed LED lighting fixtures could cast unwanted glare directly into surrounding homes. Local residents also warned that the facility could prove to be too popular, resulting in large crowds cramming the area and blocking local footpaths.
How Have Planners and Authorities Responded to the Pushback?
Town hall planning officers have carefully evaluated the grievances filed by local residents but have ultimately offered broad institutional support for the Community Sauna CIC project. Addressing the fear of over-development, council officials clarified that the adjacent land currently utilised for community gardening would remain undisturbed and untouched by the construction.
Furthermore, planning assessments concluded that the scale of the proposed timber cabin is modest enough to ensure that neighbouring properties do not suffer from compromised natural light or an invasion of privacy. Planners also dismissed fears of severe urban congestion, judging that the introduction of the sauna would not trigger a significant, disruptive surge in local foot traffic.
Weighing the community health benefits against the localized concerns, town hall planners have officially recommended that Hackney Council grant approval for the sauna facility. However, to ensure that the impact of the development can be continually monitored and managed, the recommendation stipulates that the approval be granted for a temporary fixed term of five years rather than a permanent fixture.
As Hackney Council prepares to make its final determination, the proposal highlights the ongoing tension in inner London between urban densification, the expansion of public wellness infrastructure, and the preservation of residential tranquility around heritage-listed community hubs.
