A popular outdoor activity centre in Hillingdon could relocate to Bucks after plans for a temporary site were submitted to the council.

Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre (HOAC) has faced years of uncertainty after it was announced part of the HS2 route will run through the middle of the lake where it is based.

Talks have been ongoing into the possibility of moving the centre to Denham Quarry, off Oxford Road, and now plans have moved a step forward after an application for a temporary site was submitted to Bucks County Council.

The application requests permission to relocate the high ropes and zip wire course to the Denham site, as well as repurpose a number of temporary buildings for changing rooms and staffrooms.

A new access route to the centre is proposed to be built off Oxford Road – which is expected to have a small impact on traffic on the busy road, causing some queues and delays.

HOAC has been given an “ambitious” deadline to leave its current site in Dews Lane, Harefield, by spring 2019 to enable HS2 to start work on the Colne Valley viaduct.

If approved, the temporary site will allow HOAC to leave Harefield on-time and still operate, with reduced activities, for two years while permanent plans are finalised.

The online application states: “Users come from a wide catchment area as the facilities offered are unique in West London.

“Relocation of this proposed development will allow the registered youth educational charity to continue its valuable social endeavours, as well as allowing existing users of HOAC to continue to use the facility.

“The main user group comprise of schools, colleges, scout and guides groups with the more local schools and residents of Buckinghamshire and South Bucks district visiting on a regularly.

“The next largest group is the holiday/summer holiday courses. In terms of employment, the relocation of the HOAC facility to this site will allow the operations at the site to continue to provide full time employment that will transfer from the current site at Harefield.

“The relocation of HOAC will retain existing jobs at the centre as well as create new job opportunities.”

A variety of activities are offered at the long-running centre – which has been in place for 50 years – including windsurfing, rowing, stand-up paddle boarding, dragon boating and rafting.

Principal of the centre, Neil Maddock, said: “We would have preferred to stay where we are, but we can’t because of HS2 so this is the best option for us. The new site has a lot of potential to relocate a lot of what we do here in Hillingdon.

“HS2 thought we could carry on working where we are and they would work around us, but we decided that was not feasible.”

HOAC has been working together with Hillingdon Council and Bucks County Council to design the plans.