Council bosses are finalising the sale of a prime piece of land on the A8 corridor

Local authority officials are locked in talks with a buyer for the former Esso petrol station at Bogston.

Following several failed bids over the years the site is now 'under offer', with council lawyers currently dealing with the paperwork relating to the sale.

The petrol station closed down in 2006 and the site was cleared four years ago to make it more attractive to interested parties.

A council spokesman said: "The site is now under offer and our legal team is currently dealing with the paperwork relating to the sale. "This is a high profile site with excellent transport links. "It is very positive for Inverclyde that this site is now under offer. "Unfortunately, we can't say who the buyer is until the sale is completed."

There was interest in the site in September last year but the process was held up because the plot was deemed common good land and therefore the public had to be afforded an opportunity to have their say on the proposed sale.

A council spokesman said: "The community consultation has been completed and nothing came up to prevent the site being sold."

Under the latest proposed Inverclyde local development plan - the council's blueprint for the area - the preferred use for the land is for office space, industrial business or storage or distribution.

Council officials have specifically said proposals for car wash or hot food facilities will not be considered.