SEPTEMBER 9, 2011: DIY giant B&Q was named as the first firm for a major new retail park in Port Glasgow with the company promising 75 jobs.

Developers confirmed the top retailer would be one of the big names moving into a planned multi-million pound shopping centre and leisure development next to the town’s Tesco Extra store.

The news was unveiled by property firm Gallagher Developments at a consultation in Port Glasgow Library, where representatives showed off proposals for the retail park.

Bosses from B&Q spoke exclusively to the Telegraph to say they were delighted to be coming to Inverclyde.

(Image: Newsquest)

Matthew Webster, their development chief, said at the time: “This is a new growth area for us and we will be creating 75 full and part-time positions at all levels from experts, sales assistants and up to management level, and we are looking to recruit locally.

“We are very pleased to come to Port Glasgow — there is a strategic gap in our market with the nearest stores just now in Paisley and Great Western Road in Glasgow.”

The site of the new retail park covered 26,000 square metres and it boasts room for 13 non-food shops.

Planning permission was already in place for the development, but updates to the approved blueprint were still to be rubber-stamped.

Work was ready to start in a year’s time and the shopping centre was expected to be up and running by 2013.

lan Cook, director of project management for Gallagher’s, said he hoped to announce more new tenants in the coming months.  

Mr Cook said: “We are talking to retailers at the moment, and we hope to confirm who is coming during the next six months.

“The development is going to bring around 500 full-time and part-time jobs and we are regenerating a brownfield site. It’s good news for Port Glasgow.”