South Coast training site gets the nod

Andark aims to establish the lake at a site not far from its base at Swanwick.

The approval will have come as a relief, the planning application having been rejected in 2009 and on appeal in 2010.

There had been a concern that local roads would not be able to cope with the increased traffic, a matter now resolved.

The lake will be half as big again as an Olympic-sized (50m-long) swimming pool, 7m deep and naturally styled.

There will be in-water training structures and, ashore, changing rooms and an equipment store.

While intended mainly for Andark trainees, the lake will be available to clubs on a pre-booked basis.