A major investment exceeding £750,000 is set to transform City Park Stirling into Scotland's leading sustainable outdoor events space, capable of hosting up to 30,000 people.

The funding will be used to enhance the site, located in the shadow of Stirling Castle, making it suitable for large-scale music events, concerts, and festivals.

The project is financed through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, a £214 million partnership involving Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, the University of Stirling, and the UK and Scottish Governments. The work is part of the Deal’s Culture and Heritage programme, which seeks to invest in cultural, heritage, and tourism assets across the region. The works are expected to be completed by 31 March 2026, subject to necessary consents.

Based on feedback from industry experts, the enhancements focus on creating in-built, high-quality infrastructure, which was previously cited as a barrier to securing large events. The upgrades include new access points, water and electricity supply points, improved drainage, broadband infrastructure, and new internal vehicle access routes.

-- Advertisement --

The primary goal of the project is to generate significant and wide-ranging economic and social benefits for both the city and the wider region. Over the next 15 years, the transformation aims to:

• Attract large-scale concerts, festivals, or events.

• Generate at least an additional 500,000 visitors through these events.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey, confirmed that the project will enable City Park Stirling to compete with any venue in Scotland for major cultural and civic events. He stated: "This exciting project will transform City Park Stirling into a high-quality, sustainable outdoor venue... It will generate significant and wide-ranging economic and social benefits for both the city and the wider region through increased tourism, investment and job creation, as well as delivering important environmental improvements at the site."

Scottish Government Business Minister Richard Lochhead welcomed the news, confirming the Scottish Government's contribution. "I am very pleased that £754,000 of Scottish Government funding will allow for the transformation of this historic site into a large-scale events venue," he said. He added that the project will create opportunities for major cultural events that will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, generate jobs, and showcase Scotland's talent on the global stage. This is delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s £45 million investment in the City Region Deal.

The Business Justification Case for the project was officially approved by the City Region Deal Joint Committee on Thursday, 18 September.