Inverclyde taskforce proposes £70 million regeneration plans

Council leader Stephen McCabe and the area's MSP Stuart McMillan, in their roles as co-chairs of the Inverclyde Socio-economic Taskforce, have appealed directly to Scottish Government minister Richard Lochhead MSP for funding to help get a number of initiatives off the ground to boost the area and the local economy.

Mr Lochhead, the minister for small business, innovation, tourism and trade, has been given details about eight plans identified by the taskforce as priorities to regenerate the area and improve business opportunities, housing and skills.

Richard Lochhead MSP (Image: ScotGov)

In their joint letter, Cllr McCabe and Mr McMillan have laid out ‘ambitious but very much achievable’ projects that would deliver ‘meaningful change’.

The proposals include a 55,000 square-feet expansion of the Kelburn Business Park through £3 million in additional funding, as well as a £22m investment to demolish legacy buildings within the Port Glasgow Industrial Estate and provide new facilities.

The letter also calls for the creation of a special economic investment zone to reduce business rates and stimulate growth, and the installation of more efficient traffic light systems along the A8, with the latter estimated to cost £500,000-£750,000.

It is proposed to construct 80-100 mid-market rent homes as part of a £16m redevelopment of the derelict Clune Park - which hit the headlines again this week when the estate's B-listed former primary school was ravaged by a late-night blaze.

READ MORE: Massive fire rips through derelict school in Port Glasgow

A further £25m is sought to regenerate a section of Port Glasgow town centre, which would involve the acquisition of redundant premises and investment in civic, housing and business premises creation.

The taskforce has also asked for £1m for a pilot project aimed at engaging with the near-10,500 economically inactive people in Inverclyde and attempting to bring them towards the labour market, plus half-a-million-pounds to train and upskill 100 workers in the area.

In their letter, the co-chairs said: “The potential for this area is significant and with the correct support and investment Inverclyde could deliver meaningful change for the benefit of residents and businesses and align with our shared goals of making Inverclyde an even better place to live, work, do business, and visit."

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe (Image: social media)

Councillor McCabe said: “The taskforce was established at the request of the then cabinet secretary for finance and the economy, Kate Forbes, to consider how the Scottish Government might assist Inverclyde to address the economic and social challenges we face.

“The expectation was that the government would look at funding proposals developed by the taskforce through existing funding streams rather than create a specific fund for Inverclyde.

“We are now looking to the Scottish Government to back the taskforce by providing funding for the projects we have identified.”

Information was sent at the request of Scottish Government officials who had requested greater details on the taskforce proposals.

Stuart McMillan MSP (Image: George Munro)

Mr McMillan said: “Inverclyde is a fantastic place to live but we have some long-standing and deep-rooted challenges.

“The socio-economic taskforce has established many opportunities to help turn round Inverclyde’s fortunes. The various projects suggested are not an exhaustive list, but they are ambitious and deliverable and would provide lasting change for Inverclyde residents and businesses. They would also make Inverclyde a more attractive place to live and invest.

“Inverclyde can be a thriving community once again. It just needs the support to get it to that point and these projects can help deliver that.”