Greenock town centre redevelopment to start – Daily Business

Work begins next month on the £24 million redevelopment of central Greenock which aims to transform the town’s image and attractiveness to investors.

New impressions have been released showing how it will look when the work is completed in 2027.

Hector McNeil House, which is due for demolition, is now shrouded in hoardings. There will be further demolition of the eastern section of the Oak Mall, A78 High Street flyover, and the Bullring Roundabout, which are all in a poor condition. 

The main roadworks phase of the redevelopment will follow with a new low-level road and signalised junction installed to replace the flyover and roundabout. A new Oak Mall entrance, additional public areas, and more green spaces will be created.

The main project is largely funded by the UK Government from the former Levelling Up Fund. Inverclyde Council has secured £19.39m from the UK Government towards the redevelopment with the remaining £4.19m sourced from various external funding pots and the council’s capital reserves.

The project is designed to remove and replace ageing infrastructure, improve links between various parts of the town centre and the waterfront, improve the retail space, and create new civic spaces.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “A huge amount of work has gone into this project already to get us to the stage we are at now with the first phase of the main physical works now due to begin early in the new year.

“The redevelopment will remove ageing and outdated infrastructure and modernise Greenock town centre to make it a more attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. 

“It will lay the foundations for further external investment and regeneration in Central Greenock, including through the Place for Neighbourhoods project.

“Unfortunately, disruption is unavoidable, but council officers are working closely with the main contractors and various partner organisations to keep disruption to an absolute minimum and ensure Greenock and Inverclyde remains open and accessible during the various stages of the project.

“But this is the biggest project of its kind in a generation and an opportunity to build upon other major improvements, including the new Ocean Terminal building and the West Blackhall Street redevelopment, to make a positive and long-lasting difference to central Greenock. 

“I hope people will share in this positive outlook for the town and get behind Greenock.”