A WATERSPORTS centre in North Lanarkshire has been awarded more than £1 million from the Scottish Government to go towards efforts to transform it into a “world-class” venue.
Work to transform Strathclyde Country Park Watersports Centre into a sustainable tourism attraction and sporting venue began in June 2025 and has taken another step towards completion following the announcement of the grant on Tuesday.
The centre, which closed in October last year, is not expected to reopen until Spring 2027 and will see the building become more energy efficient, with it set to be heated by renewable technology.
The project has been awarded £1.18m from the Scottish Government’s Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund and will be used to replace the existing end-of-life gas boilers, which burn fossil fuels, and will cut 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.
The announcement is the first part of the Scottish Government’s £25m pledge to fund the centre’s transformation.
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, who visited the centre on Tuesday, said the funding will help the centre become a key piece towards Scotland’s sustainable tourism goals as it is one of the country’s most visited outdoor attractions.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
This project will transform the 1970s building into a flagship low-carbon health hub for the local community.
Once complete in 2027, the enhanced facility will deliver improved spaces for families, watersports enthusiasts, community groups and local businesses.
It has played host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships.
Ross Nimmo, 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.”
Plans for the centre include creating an indoor dog-friendly area, as well as a new cafe, outdoor seating and removing temporary buildings from the car park.
It is also hoped it will become a community hub and will have better facilities for people with limited mobility.
The refurbished building will be known as Strathshore and will also become the Countryside Ranger Service’s base when it reopens next year.
North Lanarkshire Council leader, Jim Logue, hailed the funding as he 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.”
