The future of a threatened water sports centre used by hundreds of children looks set to be secured.

The boathouse at Highams Park Lake looked set to be torn down as the Corporation of London carried out work to reinforce a dam which could not cope with extreme weather at the site.

But now, the City of London Corporation, has submitted a planning application for improvements to the dam which include maintaing the boathouse on the site.

A spokesman said: “Crucially the project’s designer, Royal Haskoning DHV, has come up with a scheme which will allow the existing Michael Mallinson Water Sports Centre used by Walthamstow Scouts to stay.”

Highams Park Lake was created by the famous landscape designer Humphry Repton in 1794 and has been used by Walthamstow Scouts group for canoeing for over 30 years.

The lake is classified as a Class A large raised reservoir.

Geoff Sinclair, the City of London Corporation’s Head of Forest Operations, said: “We have listened to local concerns and worked with consultants Royal Haskoning DHV to submit design plans which will improve the safety of the dam without the need to remove the water sports centre.

“The proposed works will cost the City of London Corporation in the region of £1.7 million and we are hosting an information evening soon so that park users and residents can come and find out more.”

The information evening will take place on February 24 at Joseph Clark School in Highams Park between 4.30pm and 8pm.