Situated at the midpoint on the Forth & Clyde Canal, 15 miles east of Glasgow, the development includes pontoon berths, hard standing for 40 boats, a car park and facilities block.

Plans are also being discussed for a themed picnic area, additional parking facilities and a wind turbine installation, while The Waterside Pub Partnership - a joint venture between BW and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises to develop canal side locations - has obtained outline planning consent for a public house and restaurant on the site.

A detailed application is now being produced with a target site start scheduled for spring 2006, subject to the receipt of detailed consent.

"As boat use continues to grow across the Lowlands it is imperative that we continue to improve the facilities available to all waterway users, " said Jim Stirling, BW's director Scotland. "Thanks to a major effort from our partners at North Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, we now have a first class mooring basin at Auchinstarry which will play an important role in our continuing efforts to encourage more users to our waterways."