THE £3.2 million renovation of the King George VI building in Port Glasgow town centre has been shortlisted for a national award.
Now known as the Port Glasgow Community Hub, the project to transform the building is up for a prize at the 2026 COSLA Excellence Awards.
The Inverclyde Council project, which was led by Greenock-based W H Kirkwood, is a finalist in the Building Towards a Just Transition category in recognition of its environmental features.
The renovation saw the Category B-listed property, which dates back to the 1700s and is the oldest in the Port after Newark Castle, become the most modern and environmentally-friendly in Inverclyde boasting a rare A+ energy efficiency rating, which reflects the building’s very low modelled energy demand and carbon emissions.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said, “This is worthy recognition for the incredible amount of hard work over a number of years to not only save the historic King George VI building in Port Glasgow but to transform it into the most modern and environmentally friendly in Inverclyde and among the best examples in the country.
“It is now a thriving community hub in the heart of the town centre welcoming hundreds of people every week from older people to toddlers and supporting a wide variety of activities from arts and crafts to faith groups.
“This is a proud moment for all the council officers and partners who worked tirelessly to make the hub idea a reality and for the people of Port Glasgow and wider Inverclyde and my congratulations to all involved.”
Between its reopening in May 2025 and November 2025, the hub recorded a total footfall of 2,606 visits and hosted a variety of activities facilitated by over 40 distinct groups. Activities included toddlers groups, arts and crafts, research, English classes for speakers of other languages, wellbeing initiatives, and other opportunities for learning, social interaction, and support services.
