MEMBERS of the public are being invited to have their say on major development plans at the former watersports centre on Cumbrae.

Plans have been revealed to refurbish the former National Watersports Centre at Ballochmartin Bay and build 34 glamping units at the site, after a prospective buyer put in a bid for the property.

The plans also include upgrades to the site and the associated buildings next to the empty centre.

Two drop-in consultation events are to be held in Millport, giving the public a chance to find out more about what is being proposed, with the first to take place next week.

The former sports centre, which opened in 1976, had been for sale for offers over £550,000.

It was used to host a variety of aquatic activities, including windsurfing, kayaking, and sailing, with professional tuition.

SportScotland, which operated the centre, made the decision to close the facility in early 2020.

The organisation had been working towards delivering its scheduled programme in the summer of that year, but the facility closed when the first Covid lockdown came into effect, and it did not reopen after the easing of restrictions.

The asking price was later reduced to £450,000 in a bid to spark new interest.

Fears for the centre's future date back to 2019, when the News revealed that staff at the facility had been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy.

At the time SportScotland warned that the "status quo is not sustainable".

The site, covering a total of 11.77 acres, comprises four seven-bedroom residential chalets, a dining hall, kitchen, classrooms and gym, workshops and storage space, and land with "potential for additional development".

The Galbraith Group, which is marketing the property, says the site is now under offer.

READ MORE: Asking price for former Cumbrae watersports centre slashed to spark new interest

Outline plans will be revealed at the website of LMA Architects (l-m-a.co.uk) from July 1-7.

The first in-person drop-in event will be held at Garrison House on Monday, July 1 from 12 noon until 7pm, with a second similar event being held on August 1, again from noon until 7pm.

A community campaign was launched in the autumn of 2020 with the aim of bringing the centre back into use under community ownership.

But the campaign hit the rocks in June 2022 after The Cumbrae Wave, a charity set up to pursue the idea, concluded that it was "not financially viable".

It was put up for sale on the open market a month later.

The drop-in events and online consultation are part of a 'pre-application consultation process', meaning no formal application has yet been submitted to North Ayrshire Council.

Feedback forms will be available at the drop-in events, while members of the public will also be able to comment, once the outline plans are live at LMA's website, by emailing studio@l-m-a.co.uk. 

A deadline of August 10 has been set for public comments on the proposed development.