During the Games seating will be installed around the venue for spectators to sit and watch the action. After the Games, the spectator seating will be removed, and the venue will be developed into the White Water Canoe Centre in Broxbourne, creating a major leisure attraction for canoeing and white water rafting as well as a venue for future international competition.

The centre will be managed by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA), who own the land.

The alternative site was chosen following the discovery of some contamination at the original Spitalbrook site last October which made the proposed development of the site unviable. The new site remains within the Borough of Broxbourne and is six miles closer to the Olympic Park in east London, meaning a shorter travel time between the venue and the Olympic Village where athletes will stay in 2012.

The new venue is situated on what is currently the overflow car park for the Showground site of the River Lee Country Park, and retains the benefits of the original site. It lies just north of the A121, between Waltham Cross and Theobalds Grove stations and has excellent transport links.

David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: 'Delivering the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 Games is a huge project and it is important we take swift action when presented with challenges.

Having robust contingency plans in place has allowed us to make practical decisions on relocating the Broxbourne venue and the official confirmation we have now received for the new site gives us excellent momentum as we prepare to start construction work at the start of next year.

The new site gives us the platform to deliver a world-class venue for 2012 while retaining the huge legacy benefits these new facilities will deliver to Broxbourne and the East of England region for many years to come.'

Subject to the planning application being approved, construction is due to begin in early 2009 with the venue completed for Games training and testing in 2010-11.