A leading architect has demanded an investigation into the structural integrity of a new £23million leisure centre which was ripped apart by Storm Eowyn.
The swimming pool in Helensburgh, near Dumbarton, suffered catastrophic damage when its roof was blown off by gale force winds this month.
It came 12 months after the centre was temporarily closed following significant damage sustained in Storm Isha in January last year (2024).
Building firm Heron Brothers was awarded the seven-figure contract to build the waterfront development, which opened in 2022, by Argyll & Bute Council.
Leading architect and urban designer Professor Alan Dunlop has said a probe is needed to find out why the structure repeatedly fails in extreme weather.
Dunlop, a fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland (RIAS), said: “An investigation needs to be carried out into the failure of the roof and I’m sure that Argyll and Bute council and the trust set up to administer the leisure centre would agree, having spent £23million on the building.
“The building sits in a very prominent position, beyond the relative safety of the shoreline and out on the Gare Loch, so is more susceptible to extreme weather conditions which the design team and contractors should have taken into account.
“Admittedly Storm Eowyn was severe and the high winds were extremely powerful, however I would have expected that such a new building, if properly detailed and constructed, should have been able to withstand these extreme conditions.”
The leisure centre is operated by LiveArgyll, a trust set up by the council.
The Heron Brothers’ contract included building the swimming pool and leisure centre as well as strengthened flood defences and improved public meeting space for residents and visitors along the waterfront.
Argyll and Bute Council, on behalf of liveArgyll, said: “As an immediate priority, we have made the building safe and we are well under way making it wind and watertight and carrying out further assessments to identify what immediate and longer-term actions are needed.
“The leisure centre was built to British construction standards for a building of this type.
“A previous repair required in 2024 was to replace a piece of soffit (a piece of board situated under the overhang of the roof) which closed the building for a matter of hours while works were undertaken.”
A spokesperson for Heron Bros Ltd said: “As the lead contractor for the Leisure Centre, our team immediately mobilised (after Storm Eowyn) to assist Argyll and Bute Council and the local community with the clean-up operations.
“As well as helping make the site safe, we also prioritised making the building wind
and watertight to avoid further damage.”
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