Strathclyde Watersports Centre given £1.18m for sustainable makeover

The Strathclyde Country Park Watersports Centre is to undergo an overhaul as part of the Scottish Government’s decarbonisation plans.

The project will receive £1.18m from the government’s Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund.

The facility has been closed since October 2025 and is scheduled to reopen following refurbishment in spring 2027.

Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn announced the funding, which will be used to replace the existing end-of-life gas boilers, reducing emissions by 90% per year.

Instead the building will be fitted with a 400 Kilowatt (kW) closed-loop Water Source Heat Pump system as well as solar panels.

The aim is to transform the 1970s-era building into a sustainable health hub, and an asset to one of the country’s most visited outdoor attractions.

Once complete, the enhanced facility will deliver improved spaces for families, watersports enthusiasts, community groups and local businesses.

Flynn said: “This funding from the Scottish Government is going to help transform the Strathclyde Watersports Centre.

“The full £25m 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.”

The entire redevelopment of the watersports centre is being led by North Lanarkshire Council and is costing £15.5m.