The board of Nirah – the £400m freshwater aquarium complex being planned for Stewartby, Bedfordshire – has appointed Ian Fletcher as company secretary and general counsel.

Fletcher, who is a partner of legal practice Stephenson Harwood, was appointed by Nirah chair Peter May, who recently welcomed Arsenal’s managing director Keith Edelman as a non-executive director.

“I have known Ian for a number of years and it is very pleasing that someone of Ian’s experience is joining Nirah at this stage,” said May.

Fletcher himself commented: “I very much look forward to working with Peter, Keith and the rest of the management team to help bring Nirah to fruition.”

Nirah will be located on a 250-acre site and include two biotopes, gardens, a spa, hotels, a water park and tropical diving centre, food and retail outlets, a research institute and a science park.