New £3m project to bring the Glebe refinery back to life

Local trio Bruce Newlands, Alec Galloway and Finlay Campbell have set up a not-for-profit organisation named Creative Regeneration in a bid to bring the iconic B-listed Glebe building on Ker Street back to life. 

The trio are working on a proposal to buy the block, which is currently on the Buildings at Risk Register, and reconfigure it into a creative hub with a stained glass school at its heart. 

Local architect Bruce, who is co-founder of Inverclyde Shed and secretary of Creative Regeneration, says the former sugar refinery is an important part of Inverclyde and must be preserved and given a new lease of life.

He added: "The Glebe is iconic in Inverclyde. It's a fragment of the industrial heritage of the area and has such an interesting history. 

"If this project comes to fruition, it will be an amazing demonstration of how historic buildings can be saved when you go through the process in the right way. 

"We've been busy organising the technical and business feasibility aspects and setting up Creative Regeneration as we really want to take this project forward."

The sugar refinery site at Ker Street was established in 1831. 

Greenock born Abram Lyle, together with four partners, took control of the site and consolidated it under the Glebe Sugar Refinery Company in 1865. 

The free-standing, wedge-shaped five-storey block known as the Glebe building was built later in the 19th century and is the only remaining part if the refinery. 

Bruce, Alec and Finlay want to transform the building into a creative hub which will host Inverclyde Shed activities and classes, as well as being a flagship centre for learning about stained glass. 

Creative Regeneration chair and renowned artist Alec hopes to set up a whole floor dedicated to the art. 

He added: "The situation with stained glass in the UK is precarious and in Scotland, there are no stained glass courses left. 

"This is our chance to redress that and create a National School of Stained Glass here in Inverclyde.

"If we're at the top of the building, we will have an uninterrupted light source."

Bruce has a vision for the Glebe hub to grow into a base for sharing Inverclyde's social history, and help Inverclyde Shed expand its activities. 

Alec added: "People have a lot of memories of the building and a lot of connections to it. 

"Developing it has been a concept for decades but now the wheels are actually in motion and it's becoming something tangible. 

"It's like a building being reborn."

Members of Creative Regeneration have been in talks with the current owner of the building and have organised technical surveys with the support of the Architectural Heritage Fund. 

They have also been speaking to potential funders and the National Lottery Heritage Fund has provided initial support. 

The trio behind the regeneration proposal will be working in partnership with Inverclyde Council to make a bid for the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund in 2024.

They hope to make an offer on the building early this year and will follow that with funding applications. 

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They believe it's going to cost in the region of £3m to transform the building.

Local teacher Finlay, who is treasurer of Creative Regeneration, said: "We need community support to help us build our proposals. 

"There's been a real swell of support in communities all over Inverclyde and it's very clear that people want to see this building back in use.

"There are ambitious people doing incredible things all over Inverclyde so we're hopeful that they will get involved. 

"We want to say a huge thank-you to people who have reached out and pledged support, and brought ambition to this project at a very early stage. 

"There are still a number of hurdles to overcome but we are well on the way to realising this project."

People can sign up for free updates on the project and find out more about getting involved at www.creativeregeneration.org