4 days ago
Former national water sports centre to be auctioned off
A former national water sports centre on Cumbrae is to be auctioned off.
The facility has been closed since September 2020 and will now go under the hammer later this month with an asking price of £275,000.
Plans to transform the building into a luxury lodge with glamping pods was approved earlier this year.
However governing body Sportscotland, which owns the site, said it had not received any formal offers.
The auction is being organised by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors in Ayr.
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Kevin Bell, partner at the company, said: "This is a unique opportunity to acquire a purpose-built facility with potential for conversion or redevelopment and we anticipate much interest in this lot."
While in use the centre provided coaching in a range of water sports, across all levels, including dinghy sailing, cruising, windsurfing and sea kayaking.
It hosted summer camps for children and teenagers each year, having been opened in 1976.
Attendees over the years included double Olympic gold medal winner Shirley Robertson OBE, who often praised it for helping her sailing career.
The facility comprises a principal building together with four residential chalets, workshops/stores and yardage.
There is undeveloped land to the west, while the main building includes offices, a kitchen, gym, a sauna and classrooms.
In March 2020 Sportscotland announced plans to close the centre following that summer's programme of activities, following a review of the facility.
The emergence of Covid-19 then forced the summer plans to be scrapped, and the decision to close it was then confirmed in September 2020.
Some of the courses for children offered there were then moved to Largs on the mainland.
In March, North Ayrshire Council gave planning consent for 34 glamping pods, the creation of a kiosk and campervan parking.
Mr Bell said interested parties should make their own planning inquiries with North Ayrshire Council. The auction will be held online on 21 August at 14:30.
