Joy as £2.5m rowing club to replace fire-hit site approved

Half of the boathouse was destroyed in the fire

A fire-hit rowing club where Sir Steve Redgrave started his career is to get a new £2.5m boathouse.

The decision by councillors to conditionally approve the new facility for Marlow Rowing Club on Wednesday has been welcomed by fundraisers.

Supporters of the bid are now awaiting approval for a £1m funding bid to Sport England before works start.

It is hoped the new centre, on the Berkshire side of the River Thames, will open by 2014.

'Very pleased'

Chris Lenton, fundraising committee member for the rowing club, said: "We are very pleased. This is the next step. It's fantastic. This is the first major hurdle.

"Now we must wait for the Sport England decision.

"If that goes ahead we will get involved in building this brilliant new building. It's going to be great for the community."

Sixty boats and treasured memorabilia was lost in the blaze in August 2011.

The club has raised about £850,000 to replace its boathouse but another £300,000 is still needed.