British Rowing bids to revamp base

PLANS have been submitted to modernise British Rowing’s national training centre in Caversham.

If approved, the base for the country’s elite rowers would see updates to the existing Sherriff’s Boathouse and the construction of a new boat storage facility.

Rather than the goal being to increase the training centre’s capacity, British Rowing hopes the proposed changes will “improve and modernise” facilities for its existing athletes.

The training centre at Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake is used on a daily basis between October and July by around 60 world-class rowers and 20 staff members.

Sherriff’s Boathouse, which was built in 2006 and extended in 2013, comprises changing rooms, a gym, crew room and kitchen, a boat workshop and boat store.

The site also has a separate sleeping pod, a data pod and fuel store.

In its application, British Rowing said upgrades to the boat house are needed to improve the “experience and wellbeing” of its rowers and staff.

Improvements aimed at improving accessibility, privacy and collaboration include the creation of coaching offices and breakout spaces and a dedicated athlete rest area.

Updates would also be made to the changing rooms, which British Rowing said show signs of wear and tear and provide limited accessible facilities for Paralympic athletes.

To compensate for storage space lost to these upgrades, British Rowing is seeking to build a boat store to the north-east of the site on a gravelled area already used for boat storage.

The unheated building would be used exclusively for the storage of the current stock of boats and equipment.

Both the existing and proposed boathouses would be accessible by ramp.

The application has been opposed by Reading Borough Council over concerns about an increase in traffic. In the planning application, British Rowing said it does not expect a change in traffic, as proposals will not increase the site’s capacity or attract additional visitors.

A public consultation on the proposal will close today (Friday), and South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, is expected to reach a decision by Monday, August 11.