Olympic training venue rejected

Construction of a new training base for Team GB is under way

Plans to build an Olympic training site to enable international teams to prepare for the 2012 sailing events in Dorset have been rejected.

The plans included bulldozing a 19th Century grade-II listed viaduct at the Camber Basin area of Portland.

Portland Port applied for listed building consent but was refused by Weymouth and Portland councillors.

International teams, including the US, France and Australia, have said they need to be able to train for the games.

Simon Williams, regeneration manager for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, said "insufficient evidence" had been offered in support of demolishing the viaduct at the site, which was a former naval base.

Alternative offered

He said English Heritage had raised objections and, with their "tacit approval", the council had offered an alternative to allow the removal of only part of the viaduct.

"We thought that was a reasonable compromise but the port said it was all or nothing," he said.

"It is up to them if they want to put forward a revised proposal, which we would encourage."

Portland Port was unavailable for comment.

A look around the 2012 Olympics sailing venue in Weymouth and Portland

The training venue would have been close to the 2012 Olympics sailing venue at Osprey Quay.

The £15m purpose-built complex, which will also host the Paralympics events, was completed ahead of schedule and under budget in November 2008.

The world-class facility will play host to 400 athletes competing in 10 Olympic sailing categories.

Construction of a new training base for Team GB is currently under way alongside Osprey Quay.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) building is part of the £30m Castle Court leisure development.

The centre will provide an all-year-round base for RYA members and clubs.