Former Gourock police station could go up for sale again

A report prepared for a meeting of a key Inverclyde Council committee this week seeks permission to put the Kempock Place property back on the market.

Stuart Jamieson, the local authority's director of environment and regeneration, reveals in the report that negotiations for the sale of the property had terminated.

Mr Jamieson's report to councillors says the property was originally put up for sale by the council more than three years ago, but the first sale fell through.

Plans to convert the property into a business centre were lodged with the council in May 2023 and were approved two months later.

READ MORE: Decision made on plan to turn old Gourock police station into offices

But the building was then put back on the market the following month.

An offer was then made in January from a buyer who who wanted to turn it into a gallery and artist studio.

And councillors have now been told that the second bidder has also terminated negotiations and withdrawn from a sale. 

However two more people have since expressed interest in buying the building.

Mr Jamieson said: "Authority is now sought to remarket the property for sale and to bring a further report on any offers received back to this committee for a final decision."

Councillors on the authority's environment and regeneration committee were told that any offers received will be brought back to them for a final decision.

The building was first put up for sale in 2019, when Police Scotland - who closed the building as part of a review of its estate, held shortly after the single country-wide service was established - sought offers of more than £85,000.

READ MORE: Police station and job centre buildings put up for sale (from 2019)

The same report seeks the the committee's approval to sell or lease two disused council properties in Greenock.

One is the site in Baker Street which was formerly home to the salt store for the council's roads depot, but which has lain disused for more than 25 years.

The former roads depot site on Baker Street has lain disused for more than 25 years. (Image: Google Street View) A preferred bidder for that site is set to be chosen based on a mix of financial and socio-economic benefits.

Mr Jamieson added: "Since 2022, officers have received interest from various local businesses, and committee is now requested to grant authority to market the site on the basis of a sale as well as a lease."

Councillors will also be asked to give the green light for the former Glenbrae Children’s Centre in Greenock to be put back on the market.

It was first put up for sale in January last year but withdrawn from sale ten months later due to flood damage.

The former Glenbrae Children's Centre could be about to go back on the market. (Image: Google Street View) Permission was granted at that time to demolish the property.

But that situation has since changed, according to Mr Jamieson.

He added: "Council officers believe that they have addressed the flooding issues by working with Scottish Water and are progressing the design of a flood risk management scheme. 

"Committee is therefore requested to grant authority to bring the property back to the market for sale and a further report on offers received will be brought for a final decision"

No details were given in the report of the current market value of the three empty properties.

The matter was due to be discussed by members of the Environment and Regeneration Committee at a meeting on Thursday ( October 31).