£345,500 investment secured to develop Bendoran Marine Enterprise Hub
18/08/2026
South West Mull and Iona Development (SWMID) has secured £345,500 from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme to support the transformation of Bendoran into a year-round Marine Enterprise Hub for South West Mull.
The funding, secured with the support of Argyll and Bute Council, forms part of almost £1 million being invested through the Islands Programme in projects on Mull, Tiree and Lismore.
The Bendoran Marine Enterprise Hub will build on SWMID’s investment in the boatyard and the existing Masterplan, creating new infrastructure that supports local jobs, enterprise, marine activity, training and community use, while providing a stronger welcome to people arriving in the area by both sea and road.
The current proposals include high-quality prefabricated buildings providing more than 100m² of new space at Bendoran:
- a small retail space showcasing local and marine products;
- a flexible building incorporating shared workspace and a Marine Engagement Centre for training, community activity and visitor engagement; and
- a boathouse and marine support facility to support maintenance and marine-based activity.
The project is part of SWMID's wider ambition for Bendoran to become a sustainable community and marine asset – supporting local enterprise and employment while strengthening access to the sea and creating facilities which can be used by residents, businesses, community groups and visitors.
Developing the project with the community
SWMID has appointed Inch Architecture to support the next stage of the project, developing the designs and helping to take the proposals through the technical and delivery stages.
A dedicated Bendoran Working Group, made up of members of the SWMID Board, has also been established to oversee the project and ensure that community engagement is embedded throughout its development.
The funding award allows us to move from the initial concept into detailed development, but there are still important decisions to make about how the buildings and wider site should work in practice.
Over the coming months, the Working Group will engage with local people, businesses, marine users and other potential users of the site. This will help us understand priorities for the hub, test the proposed uses and ensure the development responds to the needs and opportunities of South West Mull.
Our timeline
We are currently working towards the following programme:
August–Autumn 2026 Project mobilisation, design development with Inch Architecture and initial engagement with local people, businesses and users of Bendoran.
Autumn–Winter 2026
Development and refinement of the designs, community consultation, technical work and preparation of the necessary permissions and procurement.
Early 2027
Finalisation of the project design, approvals and appointment of contractors and suppliers.
Spring–Summer 2027
Construction, installation of the new facilities and development of the wider Bendoran site.
Summer 2027
Commissioning and opening of the new Marine Enterprise Hub, with the Islands Programme project required to be completed by August 2027.
The programme will continue to be refined as the design, planning and procurement stages progress.
A long-term investment in South West Mull
SWMID sees Bendoran as much more than a building project. The aim is to create the infrastructure that allows new activity to grow – whether that is marine businesses, watersports, training, local products, community activity or opportunities that have not yet been developed.
Sarah Frood, CEO of South West Mull and Iona Development, said:
“This is a really significant investment in Bendoran and in the future of South West Mull. We have already been working to improve the boatyard and the infrastructure around it, but this funding gives us the opportunity to take the next major step and create a place that can support enterprise, jobs, skills and community activity throughout the year.
“What is particularly important now is that we don't simply design buildings and then ask people what they think. We want to work with the community, businesses and people who use Bendoran to understand how these spaces can work and what opportunities they could unlock.
“We are delighted to have Inch Architecture working with us and have established a Board working group to guide the project. Over the coming months there will be a number of opportunities for people to get involved and help shape the next stage.”
The Islands Programme is a competitive Scottish Government capital fund, administered by Scottish Futures Trust, supporting projects on Scotland's inhabited islands which contribute to population retention and growth.
SWMID will share further information about the designs, engagement opportunities and project progress as the work develops.
