WORK which officials say will help pave the way for a new village to be created at the former Inverkip Power Station site looks set to start next year.

Inverclyde Council officers have confirmed that plans to create a new junction and install traffic lights on the A78 at Inverkip are expected to start in early 2025.

The £4.15 million project was first unveiled in 2014, and is linked to proposals to build a 650-home development on the old power station site. 

Scottish Power Energy Networks, who own the Inverkip Power Station site, were originally intending to undertake the project, but in late 2023 the council took on responsibility for its delivery and approved an outline business case. 

The final business case has now been drawn up and approval is being sought from councillors. 

Under the final plans, the main road access to the proposed 650-home Bruceacre site will be a T-junction off the A78 instead of a roundabout as was originally planned.

A staggered pedestrian crossing and traffic lights will be added to the T-junction once 200 homes have been built on the land.

Traffic lights are also to be to be installed at the north entrance to Inverkip and at the entrance to Kip Marina.

The council is set to ask for £3.6m from the Glasgow City Region Infrastructure Programme to go towards the project, with the remaining £570,000 coming from Inverclyde Council. 

Officers report that the projects costs have risen by £350,000 since the outline case was approved due to inflationary construction costs, additional time required on site to ensure a works phasing programme that is acceptable to Transport Scotland and some additional professional fees and contingency.

Members of the environment and regeneration committee are being asked to give their approval for the final business case to be submitted the Glasgow City Region project management office.

Once the office approves the plan, the project will progress to conclude the contract and move onto construction. 

Construction work is due to start in the first quarter of 2025 and be completed by the end of 2025.