Strathclyde Country Park Watersports Centre will be transformed
into a world-class sustainable tourism attraction and sporting
venue after being allocated £1.18 million from the Scottish
Government's Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund.
Economy Secretary announced the grant, the
first from Scottish Government's £25 million commitment to the
Fund, during a visit to the Centre.
It will be used to replace the existing end-of-life gas boilers
which burn fossil fuels that drive global warming, reducing the
site's carbon emissions by 90% annually.
A 400 Kilowatt (kW) closed-loop Water Source Heat Pump system
will instead use sealed pipes submerged within Strathclyde Loch
to gather heat energy in the water, further supported by 60
Kilowatt peak (kWp) solar panels.
Strathclyde Park is one of Scotland's most-visited outdoor
attractions and has played host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games
and 2018 European Championships.
This project will transform the 1970s building into a flagship
low-carbon health hub for the whole community. Once complete in
2027, the enhanced facility will deliver improved spaces for
families, watersports enthusiasts, community groups and local
businesses.
Mr Flynn, who visited the Centre today (Tuesday 25th)
said:
This funding from the Scottish Government is going to help
transform the Strathclyde Watersports Centre.
The full £25 million package from the Scottish Government will
help reduce costs and future-proof both the private and public
sectors across the Clyde Corridor - and the £1.18 million
announced for the park today marks the start of this vital work.
It will help transform the current 50 year old building into a
modern, dynamic tourist attraction with strong community
benefits, supporting local health, education and job
opportunities.
Using the natural resources in the park as the heat source is an
innovative idea that will cut emissions and ensure the business
it fit for the future.
We want Scotland to become a world-leader in sustainable tourism
and this is exactly the type of project that will help to make
that vision a reality.
Clyde Mission is being led by Glasgow City Region with Argyll and
Bute Council. , Head of Place at Glasgow City
Region said:
It's really exciting to see the first grant go live for the Heat
Decarbonisation Fund and particularly for a venue that is used by
many people and communities.
And it is a further milestone for the wider Clyde Mission
programme which is on track to provide a series of
recommendations later this year on how we can revitalise the
River Clyde Corridor which is home to hundreds of thousands
of people, jobs and employers and host to many areas of urban and
rural beauty such as Strathclyde Country Park.
North Lanarkshire Council Leader, Councillor Jim Logue, said: We
are investing the lion's share of the circa £16m redevelopment
which will give an old building a vibrant, contemporary and
sustainable future which will deliver clear benefits for both the
environment and local residents.
When it reopens, Strathshore will include space for small
businesses to hire; a ground floor café and seating terrace;
improved facilities for accessibility, including changing places
and a larger lift; a new base for the Countryside Ranger Service;
space for outdoor education, and all the existing water sports
and bike hire, plus refreshed changing rooms.
As the first grant from the Heat Decarbonisation Fund, the
project at Strathclyde Country Park is an example of how it can
help communities and economies along the length of the River
Clyde.
Background
The Watersports Centre redevelopment is being led by North
Lanarkshire Council and is costing £15.5 million.
The Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund was officially
launched late last year with a total budget of £25 million and £5
million allocation for this financial year.
The Scottish Government is funding the Clyde Mission Heat
Decarbonisation Fund under the Clyde Mission programme, which
aims to make the Clyde Corridor an engine of sustainable and
inclusive growth for the city, the region, and for Scotland. It
is led by Glasgow City Region and Argyll and Bute Council, with
the Scottish Government as a key partner.
It is focussed on accelerating heat decarbonisation within the
Clyde Mission corridor, a stretch of the River Clyde from
Inverclyde to Lanark within 500 metres of each riverbank.
