Olympic canoe venue gets planning nod

Broxbourne Borough Council has granted planning approval to the White Water Canoe Centre, to be used in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The plans will now be referred to the Government Office for the East of England to grant planning permission.

The venue will include:

• A 300m international standard canoe/kayak slalom course.
• A parkland setting.
• A new facility building containing a reception, cafe, changing rooms, shop, offices, spectator viewing facilities, equipment storage and water pump/filtration facilities.

Edmund Nuttall, Carillion and Balfour Beatty will go head-to-head in a competition to build the scheme.

The contract is expected to be awarded early next year, with work due to start in spring 2009.