GREENOCK-based WH Kirkwood has completed a £3.2 million restoration project on one of Port Glasgow’s oldest buildings on behalf of Inverclyde Council and the Scottish Government.
The King George VI building, which dates back to the 1700s when it originated as a Masonic Hall, has been revitalised into a modern and environmentally-friendly facility boasting an A+ energy efficiency rating, with it surpassing net-zero emissions. The building features air-source heat pumps, solar panels, under-floor heating, advanced insulation, and modern glazing.
The B-listed property will serve as a central resource for local residents and community organisations and will now be known as the Port Glasgow Community Hub to better reflect its new purpose.
The hub is designed to be a key community asset, promoting social inclusion, expanding opportunities for education, and strengthening local support networks. It will offer a range of accessible facilities and services aimed at enhancing the well-being of local communities.
This include kitchen and cooking facilities, office space, meeting rooms, and outdoor areas with planned growing spaces for produce and plants. Beneficiaries of the new hub will include groups previously based at the Clune Park Resource Centre, which was closed due to fire damage and will soon be demolished as part of the Clune Park regeneration project.
The Scottish Government contributed £1.8m and the council invested £1.4m over various phases of the project, with Inverclyde Council saying the project saved the historic building ‘from the scrapheap’.
The building was officially opened by the provost of Inverclyde, Drew McKenzie, who cut the ribbon alongside Scottish Government investment minister, Tom Arthur.
Provost McKenzie said, “This remarkable transformation has converted an historic Port Glasgow landmark into one of the most modern and environmentally sustainable properties within Inverclyde. Faced with significant disrepair upon its return to the council, demolition would have been the expedient option. However, a concerted effort was made to preserve this building and repurpose it positively, an objective that has been successfully realised.
“The facility will now function as a vibrant community hub, accessible to a diverse range of local groups and supported by council services. The successful completion of this project is a testament to the considerable dedication of the council’s inclusive communities, technical services, and property teams, as well as the invaluable support of our funding partners in the Scottish Government.
“The reopening of this building during Port Glasgow’s 250th anniversary year is particularly fitting, and I am confident that it will serve as a valuable community asset for many years to come.”
Investment minister, Mr Arthur, added, “I am pleased that support from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration funding programmes have helped ensure the future of the oldest building in Port Glasgow, helping transform it into a real asset for the local community. I am sure the Community Hub will have a bright future and will have a hugely positive impact on local people for years to come.”
