WORK is to start in January 2026 on the £24 million redevelopment of central Greenock, Inverclyde Council has announced.
Balfour Beatty is leading the project, which will be carried out in phases starting with the demolition of Hector McNeil House next month.
Hoarding has this week gone up around Hector McNeil House as preparations start for the main physical works of the project, which is largely funded by the UK Government from the former Levelling Up Fund.
That will be followed by the 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 fresh Oak Mall entrance, additional public areas, and more greenspaces will also be created as part of the project. The whole Central Greenock transformation project is scheduled for completion in 2027, the local authority added.
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“The redevelopment will remove ageing and outdated infrastructure and modernise Greenock Town Centre to make it a more attractive place to live, work, visit and do business.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.”
