WORK has started on a major new project to create a £1.9 million sports facility on the shores of Windermere.

The development is part of a series of improvements to the National Trust-owned Fell Foot site and was made possible following £500,000 of investment from Sport England.

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Future works include the restoration of the 19th century boathouses, a new café, landscaping the historic garden and creation of a small glamping area. These proposals were given planning permission in October 2015 by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Steph Byast, Fell Foot Operations Manager, said on Monday: "We’re excited to say that today sees the start of a project we’ve been discussing and planning for years.

"We’ve been working closely with current and future users, looking at the design plans and practicalities. Materials and services such as heating will be low maintenance, better environmentally and to have a low visual impact in the historic landscape of this fantastic place.

"The park will be open as usual over the winter, and fully open from Easter. The new facilities will be opening October 2017."

The new facility will include new changing rooms and showers for swimmers, sailor’s, canoers and rowers as well as runners, walkers and cyclists.

There will also be a club and community social space and meeting rooms, for training courses, covered and outdoor storage, workshop space and upgrades to the jetties.

The new facilities will continue to provide a base for South Windermere Sailing Club which has been based at Fell Foot since 1961, and Windermere Rowing Club who joined in 2014.

Mark Fearnley, of Windermere Sailing Club, said: "We’re really looking forward to having a new club house and changing facilities, along with much improved launching facilities, a bigger boat park, and more car parking. We hope that these developments will attract a whole new group of members who want to go sailing and racing at this beautiful location."

Fiona Marley Paterson, chairman and founder of Windermere Rowing Club, said: "As a new club, establishing the sport of rowing in the South Lakes for the first time, we could only have dreamed of building multi-million pound facilities.

"Working with the National Trust and other local sport clubs on such an exciting project has allowed us to find more suitable facilities quickly and in exactly the right way: in partnership with other water users."

As well as on-the-water activities, Fell Foot is also host to a fast-developing ‘Park Run’ which enables new and experienced runners to experience running together in safe surroundings and also hosts growing sports such as Nordic walking and orienteering.

Tom Slater Fell Foot Project Manager said: “We’ve wanted to improve facilities and increase local water sports participation for a long time, and we’re delighted to have that vision supported by Sport England. Fell Foot offers one of few public access points to the lake at the southern end and this development will enable lots of people to experience and enjoy getting out on the water”