The construction of a new £6.7m ($8.44m) Water Sports Hub in Stranraer, Scotland, has officially begun, with Clark Contracts leading the project.

The new development aims to transform the town's waterfront into a watersports destination and is scheduled to open in mid-2026.

It is being constructed adjacent to the existing Harbour Office in Agnew Park for Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA).

The hub will cater to watersports participants with features such as changing and showering facilities, a café, class and meeting rooms, offices, and public spaces. The building will adhere to Passivhaus sustainability standards.

The project is a collaborative effort involving several partners such as John Renshaw Architects, and consultants from Cundall, Hardies, and Luths Services.

Funding for the Water Sports Hub includes a £4.6m contribution from the UK government's Levelling Up Fund, supplemented by £2.1m from various sources, including DGC development funds, Sports Scotland, South of Scotland Enterprise, the Holywood Trust, and the Royal Yachting Association.

Residents of Stranraer celebrated the start of construction on the Water Sports Hub, which overlooks Loch Ryan.

The ground-breaking event featured members from SWSA's Kids Club and Young Instructor programme, highlighting the community's engagement and the project's potential impact on local young people.

SWSA chair John Fenwick said: "After years of planning and hard work, and generous support from our funders, it's wonderful to see construction finally beginning on our new Water Sports Hub.

“This facility will transform what we can offer as an association, creating opportunities for skills development, employment and establishing Stranraer as a premier destination for watersports events and training. It's a major step forward in the regeneration of our town."

Clark Contracts director Michael Scanlan said: “We are delighted to be working with Stranraer Water Sports Association on this exciting project. It is great to see continued development in Stranraer and we are looking forward to continuing to work in the area and providing these high-quality facilities for the local community.”

In a previous development, Clark Contracts was appointed to refurbish the Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh City Centre.