Green light for £180m Greenock dock scheme

A £180m project to redevelop an historic dock near Glasgow has been approved in principle by Inverclyde Council planning board.

The regeneration project, one of the largest schemes of its type ever seen in Scotland, has been planned by urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde and property and transport firm Peel.

The revival of the historic old James Watt Dock will see more than 1,000 homes and 12,000 sq m of retail and business space built in Greenock.

The focal point of the regeneration project will be the restoration of a listed cast iron sugar warehouse. A 400-berth marina and a hotel are also due to be created.

It is hoped the 43 ha site will create around 1,700 jobs.

Councillor David Wilson, who chairs the planning board, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to completely transform the area and breathe new life into Inverclyde.

“The plans are imaginative, ambitious and exciting and mark a huge step forward in our drive to make Inverclyde the perfect place to live and work.”

Bill Nicol, chief executive of Riverside Inverclyde, said: “We have formed a new joint venture company to deliver the £180 million scheme and obtaining consent is a key milestone which will allow infrastructural and first phase works to commence within the next few weeks.”