North Lanarkshire Council has approved the redevelopment of the Strathclyde Country Park Watersports Centre for a new near net zero health hub. The development will include improved facilities for visitors and a reduction in carbon emissions by 90%.

A new ground floor waterfront café will be created, with an improved reception area and changing facilities, multipurpose bookable spaces, new welcome areas for outdoor education activities, and new office and meeting spaces. The facilities will be available for groups like Parkrun and Jog Scotland, who use the park.

The building will have super-efficient insulation fitted and green energy will be generated by a heat pump taking energy from the loch water and also from solar panels on the roof.

A range of well-being activities will be organised at the new centre, including health checks and space for start-ups businesses in the health and well-being sector.

-- Advertisement --

The Council have received external grants of £2.3million from the Scottish Government's Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund, £1 million from the Place Based Investment Program and £400,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The remaining £9 million required for phase 1 of the project will be provided through the council's capital programme.

"This innovative project will transform a 1970s building into a modern, energy efficient facility that uses natural resources within the park to provide the power supply," said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.

"It is an excellent example of how existing buildings can be retrofitted with the latest materials and technology to make them fit for current standards, and it will contribute to the council's ambition to be carbon net zero by 2030.

"Strathclyde Country Park is very popular with local people and visitors, and we provide a year-round programme of outdoor education for pupils. The improved facilities will allow more people to enjoy the watersports facilities and the new café, and we'll see an increase in the number of schools and park users benefiting from the activities available."

The whole project eventually aims to reduce carbon emissions by 90% (138,590kgCo2e a year) and energy consumption (148,192kWhrs per year) across Strathclyde Country Park. It is a key part of the council's Country Parks for the Future programme, which aims to transform all three country parks (Strathclyde, Drumpellier and Palacerigg) over the next ten years.