The new £30 million Brodick Ferry Terminal has been opened on the Isle of Arran.

The facility was officially unveiled by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, Derek Mackay, on Thursday, 12 April.

The new 110-metre, two-berth pier is designed to accommodate the new dual-fuel vessel, MV Glen Sannox when it enters service, while a dedicated berth has been created for PS Waverley that can accommodate other commercial vessels, including cruise ships.

Features of the two-storey terminal building include a ticket office, toilets, harbour staff offices and a 120-seat departure lounge. Outside, there is an increased marshalling area featuring six lanes, offering a combined 895 metres for cars, HGVs and service vehicles; six bus stances with two modern shelters; and parking for up to 65 cars.

In addition, the BREEAM 'Very Good' rated scheme contains a number of sustainable features such as photovoltaic roof tiles to generate electricity for the building, a biomass heating system fuelled by locally sourced wood chips, a natural air ventilation system, on-site segregated bicycle routes and storage, and electric vehicle charging points in the parking area. In addition, the majority of dredged and excavated material was re-used in the project as fill for the marshalling area, and excess material was donated to the Brodick Improvement Committee to use in the recovery of Brodick Beach.

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Overall, the development is the single biggest port infrastructure construction project delivered by CMAL, which received funding support from Transport Scotland, North Ayrshire Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Coastal Communities Fund to deliver full-scale redevelopment of the island terminal.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Derek Mackay, said: "I'm delighted to officially open the new terminal and pier at Brodick Harbour, a project that has transformed the facility and will bring real benefits to ferry users.

"The upgrade will strengthen the harbour's resilience, allowing a broader range of vessels to berth, and the new terminal building will improve the overall experience for passengers.

"This project underlines the Scottish Government's commitment to providing the best possible ferry services for the communities that rely on them and ensuring that our islands remain an attractive and accessible destination for visitors."

Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive at CMAL, said: "The new Brodick Ferry Terminal is a fantastic addition to the island's transport and tourism infrastructure, offering islanders and visitors a more resilient ferry service and a more comfortable and safer travel experience.

"The opening of the new terminal marks a key milestone in our investment programme for Arran. The new ferry for the Ardrossan to Brodick route, MV Glen Sannox, was launched last year and the new terminal will be a fitting, modern home for this innovative vessel when it enters service. In addition, we have recently undertaken several small upgrade schemes at Lochranza, and have planned works during 2018 at both Lochranza and Claonaig.

"We are committed to an ongoing programme of harbour upgrades and modifications across our network to provide safe and efficient lifeline ferry services to communities around Scotland."

(LM)