A WORLD-class centre for round-the-world yachts and the Tall Ships has been given the go-ahead by planners.
A four-screen cinema, restaurants, deep water berths, 380 homes, including social homes, changing rooms, overnight accommodation and services for ocean-going yachtsmen, was approved by Gosport planners.
The former Royal Navy base, Royal Clarence Yard, is to be transformed into the equivalent of Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Gosport mayor Aleck Hayward said: "This will continue the renaissance of Gosport as a centre for leisure and yachting, as it emerges after the departure of the Navy from so many bases.''
The project is expected to create nearly 400 jobs, and work could begin early next year. Berkeley Homes is the developer.
The Royal Yachting Association welcomed the scheme as a badly-needed alternative for events like the Times Clipper Race and the BT Global Challenge.
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