Nationally Significant Regeneration Project for Stranraer
A "nationally significant" visitor attraction focused on the history of Scottish emigration is being proposed for Stranraer.
The initiative is led by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) and supported by Sam Heughan, the actor from Outlander who was born in Galloway.
"The south of Scotland has some of the most powerful stories, landscapes and communities in the country,"Heughan said.
Development efforts have been ongoing for over two years, funded by South of Scotland Enterprise.
The project’s next phase involves building public support and finalizing options before pursuing additional investment.
The developers aim for the attraction to be comparable in scale to Belfast's Titanic Experience or Cornwall's Eden Project.
The SSDA and Stranraer Development Trust (SDT) plan to leverage the Stranraer Oyster Festival in September to generate momentum for the project.
A significant public consultation and community involvement will be central to the upcoming phase.
Inspiration and Vision
SSDA chief executive David Hope-Jones described the proposal as "nationally significant."
"You only have to look over the Irish Sea to see the Titanic Experience, where they turned a brownfield site into a world-class visitor attraction, so it is absolutely that scale,"he said.
He also noted that the team is drawing inspiration from the V&A in Dundee and the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The project aims to tell the stories of Scots who emigrated to destinations such as Australia and North America.
"It's a major motivation for North American visitors to Scotland to discover their ancestry and find their roots,"Hope-Jones added.
Stranraer's Changing Identity and Regeneration Efforts
For over a century, Stranraer was primarily known as a ferry port with regular services to Northern Ireland.
This changed in 2011 when Stena Line relocated its operations to Cairnryan, further up the coast, aiming to reduce costs and journey times.
Various regeneration initiatives have been implemented or are planned to revitalize the town.
Romano Petrucci, chair of the SDT, emphasized the importance of local involvement in shaping the project.
"This is an important moment for Stranraer, we want local people to be part of shaping a project that can bring new energy, new visitors and long-term benefit to the town.
It is 15 years since the ferries left the town, and we have worked hard to tackle the challenges this created. It's fantastic to see the developments under way in the town, ensuring a resilient future."
Support from Sam Heughan and Broader Context
The project has received backing from Sam Heughan, who reiterated the cultural significance of the region.
"The South of Scotland has some of the most powerful stories, landscapes and communities anywhere in the country,"said the Galloway-born actor.
"The story of Scottish emigration and diaspora has deep emotional and global resonance.
Millions of people across the world feel connected to Scotland through family, heritage and identity."
The planned visitor attraction complements other investments in the area, including the Water Sports Hub, the redeveloped George Hotel, the Kirkpatrick C2C cycle route, and coastal and marine projects.
Details regarding the upcoming public consultation will be announced in due course.
