Scotland’s first dedicated para-sports facility will be built at the sportscotland National Sports Centre Inverclyde in Largs, Commonwealth Games Secretary Shona Robison has announced.

The £9 million development, the first of its kind anywhere in the UK, will ensure disabled athletes can train at world-class, fully integrated, multi-sports facilities and extensively refurbish the centre. The funding is part of the Government’s work to ensure a lasting legacy from Glasgow 2014, which featured the highest number of para-sport medal events in the history of the games.

The significant investment will also benefit children and young people of all ages from across Scotland who want to participate in a range of para-sports.

John Kent, Principal of sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde, said: “This is fantastic news which opens up so many opportunities for all of Scottish sport, especially for Scottish Disability Sport.

“Not only will para-sports performance athletes stay at the centre, but children, young people, and adults with disabilities will be able to participate and be inspired by taking part in sport at a fully-inclusive residential National Sports Centre.

“School residential sports weeks will be fully-inclusive and accessible for all young people. The sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde has over 50 years of contributing to and developing sport and looks forward to taking this project forward in a world-class facility.” The Scottish Government will invest £6 million, through sportscotland, towards a £9 million refurbishment that will provide 60 fully adapted residential rooms at the National Centre, with a further £3 million coming from the national agency for sport. The redevelopment is set to be completed in 2016.

Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: “Team Scotland para-athletes won an amazing seven medals, including three golds, at Glasgow 2014, inspiring more disabled people to take up and enjoy sport. This Government is focused on maximising the sporting legacy of the Games and this new funding for fully adapted accommodation will give a new generation of para-athletes the chance to train at world class facilities and emulate their Games heroes.

“Inverclyde is already one of the best-equipped, modern residential sports centres in the UK, and is integral to the Scottish sport system that is producing Commonwealth and world champions. The redevelopment will help even more para-athletes train in outstanding facilities, with the best technical support, to become world beaters. That is another positive and lasting legacy from the Games for Scottish sport.” sportscotland’s Chief Executive Stewart Harris said: “This is excellent news both for para-sports in Scotland and for the sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde. Scotland has world-class sporting facilities and this significant commitment, coupled with the National Performance Centre for Sport being built in Edinburgh, further improves Scotland’s sporting infrastructure.

“The integration of para-sports into the Glasgow Games was hugely successful, and this announcement builds on that by offering local, regional, and national clubs and schools capacity to ensure special needs groups and children with disabilities, as well as performance para-athletes, benefit from using world-class facilities.

“This welcome announcement secures the centre as an inclusive venue encompassing a wide range of sports and physical activities, and will support para-sports and a number of small and medium Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport, as well as events in the area, particularly sailing.” At the Scottish Parliament announcement, Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson said: “I am delighted by that most welcome announcement, as I am sure everybody who is connected with the Inverclyde national sports centre will be. Can the cabinet secretary advise the Parliament on how that will be taken forward to maintain the momentum and drive that she mentioned earlier in her speech?” Ms Robison replied: “I should first pay tribute to Kenneth Gibson, who has been a real advocate for the Inverclyde centre. He has helped to bring people together to consider the centre’s future. Sportscotland will work closely with North Ayrshire Council to plan the development of the new centre. As well as the new national para-sports centre, North Ayrshire is keen for its school estate to be involved. That would be a really good balance of use and would give the Inverclyde centre a new lease of life. I am certainly happy to keep the member informed as discussions begin at a more detailed level.” Gavin McLeod, chief executive of Scottish Disability Sport added: “Scottish Disability Sport is delighted with the significant investment to support sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde to become a fully inclusive and accessible national facility. SDS is committed to supporting children, young people and adults with a disability to participate and compete in their chosen sport and meet their full potential. This investment will undoubtedly support SDS to achieve this aim.” Rumours have been circulating concerning the future of the main Hotel/reception building at Inverclyde, and following this week’s announcement, a spokesman for sportscotland responded: “It is wonderful news that the Scottish Government is providing the additional £6 million of the £9 million project to significantly enhance the sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde.

“Now that the investment is secure, we are investigating various options to proceed, including examining the possibility of a new building or an extensive refurbishment, and will then decide upon the most viable option which will guarantee a fully inclusive and accessible world-class, sustainable sporting facility with 60 fully adapted residential rooms for the people of Largs and Scotland.”