Ambitious plans for a sports and leisure development at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, Nottingham, have been approved by Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC).

A number of possible new developments have been identified for the site, which could benefit from a £10m investment, with contributions from both the council and Sport England. Potential new additions to the centre include Flow Riders, indoor surfing facilities which would be among the first of their kind in Britain, as well as a country park area for walking and cycling, and a caravan and campsite.

Other new developments identified could see the installation of an inflatable pontoon system across the centre's lake, allowing a wide range of activities to take place, including 'pay and play' watersports provision. A new 'activity hub' has also been put forward for the site, offering facilities for climbing, water skiing and canoeing. The centre's current canoe slalom will be retained for elite and recreational use, while existing conference facilities will be refurbished. Work is set to start straight away, subject to planning, and it is expected that all work will be completed by 2012. A second phase of development has also been outlined, including a marina and a hotel.

NCC's Chris Barron, said: "We consulted with people a couple of years ago. It was clear that extreme sport that was available to all was a priority and the idea of a marina was very popular. "In order for the figures to stack up, we need to promote the wider use of the centre. It's important that elite sports people have a place to train, but we need to strike a balance and attract a broader range of people to make use of the site."