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

The White Water Canoe Centre will be built by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire to host the Canoe / Kayak slalom events during the Olympic Games in 2012.

After the Games, the venue will be developed to become a sporting and leisure facility for canoeing and white-water rafting, as well as a major competition venue for elite events. The Centre will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, and will sit alongside the existing centres of sporting excellence in the Lee Valley Regional Park.

The venue plans include:

*An international standard Canoe / Kayak Slalom Course – an Games standard 300m course, with a warm-up course and finish lake. A new artificial water body will be constructed and the white-water will be created through a system of pumps
*New parklands - the canoe course will be located within a wider parkland setting. The landscaping works will include path and bridge networks throughout the venue to facilitate spectator access and viewing
*A new facility building – containing a reception, café, changing rooms, shop, offices, spectator viewing facilities, equipment storage and water pump/filtration facilities 

David Higgins, ODA Chief Executive said: "Securing planning approval is a significant milestone and keeps us firmly on-track to deliver the new world-class facilities at Broxbourne in good time for the Games."

The contract for construction companies to build the new venue and facilities is currently out to tender and is expected to be awarded in early 2009, with works starting in Spring 2009.