Millport Marine Station gets an upgrade

An upgrading and refurbishment scheme of the national research facility Millport Marine Station, on the Isle of Cumbrae in Ayrshire, is expected to boost the station’s use by British and foreign universities while also supporting the local Ayrshire economy.

In terms of funding, the Millport Marine Station has cost a total sum of £9.5M and has received part of this investment, in the amount of £300,000, from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), with the upgrading process having to be undertaken as a two stage process over the course of a five year period.

Once the station is fully upgraded it will include facilities such as new teaching labs, new lecture room facilities, and refurbished ensuite overnight accommodation as well as an entirely new accommodation building, with the new facilities safeguarding a total of 29 jobs while also creating full time employment for a further 13 people.

Adding to this, the marine biological station is expected to create seasonal employment to account for the increase in visitor volume, which is forecast to increase by more than 5,000 people, while also generating an extra £2.6M towards the North Ayrshire economy and £3.1M towards the wider Scottish economy, thereby providing a much welcomed boost to the fragile island and its businesses.

Refurbishment of the marine station has been a joint venture with St Andrew’s University in Fife, with support from the University of Glasgow and the University of London, to develop academic and commercial opportunities while also encouraging collaboration of research and increase the station’s utilisation by Scottish schools.

Furthermore, the second phase of the refurbishment programme is set to entail the construction of a new aquarium, a climbing wall, an extension to the dining hall facilities, as well as other improvements to the teaching facilities at the station.

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