Marine changes hands for £4 million

Rachel Lamb - Rachel Lamb • Published 22 Apr 2008 09:00 0 Comments

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Rhu Marina is at the centre of an ambitious new development plan set to boost leisure and tourism in the area.

The renowned marina has been bought by The Crown Estate in a £4 million deal.

Plans for a mixed-use expansion are already underway. The improvements could place Rhu at the forefront of Scotland"s growing marine leisure industry, making it a top holiday destination.

Billy Petrie, Provost of Argyll and Bute, has welcomed the news.

He said: 'As a local councillor born and bred in Rhu, I"m sure this will be a good thing for the village and for the local economy. If this is going to bring tourists to the area and make the marina more popular and better known it can"t be a bad thing.

'The marina has been through stormy times but the directors have done an excellent job of getting it back on track and this is the next phase to bring Rhu Marina forward into the 21st century. It is just what this area needs.'

The 6.5 acre site includes moorings, boat storage areas, marine workshops and chandlery as well as the RNLI station with slipway and HM Coastguard. Under the new arrangement, the marina will be leased to Quay Marinas.

The marine leisure industry is estimated to be worth almost £3 billion in the UK and is growing in Scotland at a rate of more than 10 per cent per year.

Rob Hastings, The Crown Estate"s Director of Marine Estate, said the marina would provide an excellent opportunity for investment.

He added: 'Rhu Marina is one of the best known names in the marine leisure industry in Scotland and so it is fitting that this is our first purchase of a Scottish marina. It is in a wonderful location as the Firth of Clyde is recognised as one of the finest sailing areas in the world.

'This is a the first of a number of investments we hope to make as part of our new marine investment strategy. Our plans for the site will provide a boost for the local economy and tourism in the area.'

Alasdair Rankin, head of Marine Business Development for Scotland, said: 'We are still in the initial process of considering a mixed use development of the site. We are looking at a number of different possibilities.'

A masterplan, set to include an expanded marina and related businesses, plus top end luxury apartments, is being drawn up for The Crown Estate by well known Scottish architects, RMJM.

The new plans will see the number of berths almost doubled and will feature increased parking and a new restaurant.

Former Managing Director Alan Dundas said he was pleased The Crown Estate had decided to invest in Rhu Marina to make it a possible centre of excellence for sailing.

Speaking on behalf of the previous shareholders, he said: 'The facility, when completed, should be a considerable asset to Rhu and Helensburgh, and the many visitors to the area who come by road, rail and sea. Helensburgh and Lomond is an immensely attractive location and this investment will be a big boost for the local community.

'The Crown Estate, supported by Quay Marinas who will operate the marina on a lease from the Crown, should be able to move forward the future plans for approval on a much quicker basis than we, as individuals, were in a position to do. The marina was built originally in the late seventies, and with design problems with the early breakwaters, it has taken longer than we would have liked to complete the marina plans. The involvement of the Crown should now hopefully see that vision completed in the not too distant future and we wish them every success.'

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 17 Apr 08

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