A POPULAR seaside town is set to undergo a £22 million upgrade, which will create more public spaces.
The town of will see a complete overhaul of its town centre as part of the development.
Located just a 40 minute drive from , Greenock is one of the UK’s leading hubs.
The Victorian town, which has a population of 41,280, welcomes up to 80 cruise ships each year.
Greenock grew from a small fishing village to the site of the first port of the Firth of Clyde in 1711.
This development is funded by the government’s Levelling Up project and has an estimated completion date of autumn 2026.
A main focus of the project involves improving access to the Greenock’s town centre.
It will involve the redesigning and lowering of the A78 flyover to ground level to improve access and create better connections to the town centre.
The Bullring Roundabout is set to be replaced with a new low-level road and signalised junction to provide improved links to different parts of the town centre.
This work will also see the development of new public spaces for the local community.
It will also help modernise local retail space by demolishing the A78 dual carriageway and 40% of the Oak Mall shopping centre, creating a new mall entrance.
The Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Hector McNeill House headquarters and the Hunters Place Public Toiletswill also be demolished as part of the centre’s restructure.
Demolition of the Oak Mall and Hector McNeill House elements is set to begin before summer, followed by the work to the A78.
Construction is set to end by late summer 2026, with project completion scheduled for autumn 2026.
“This is a hugely complex project with so many different elements in one of the busiest parts of Inverclyde in terms of traffic,”; said Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration.
“There has been a huge amount of work on the go in the background by council officers working closely with the various partner agencies to get this important Greenock Town Centre regeneration project off the ground.
“There will of course be substantial disruption... but I hope people will continue to share in our vision of making Greenock Town Centre a more attractive and welcoming place to live, work, visit ,and do business.”;
The town previously saw ground break on a number of regeneration projects, including the construction of a new Ocean Terminal cruise ship visitor centre.
According to the Inverclyde Council, the work is designed to make Greenock more attractive, bringing in more visitors, creating new opportunities, and making the town centre more accessible for residents and visitors.
Last year, Greenock was named among the top 10 UK seaside towns to visit with your kids.
The town’s historic Esplanade, which was first opened in 1867, offers scenic views of the surrounding hills and lochs of the Scottish Highlands as well as the town’s existing Victorian architecture.
And this mile-long walk will also give you stunning views of the docked cruise ships and you may even spot the town’s local dolphin pod.
For a closer look, visitors can enjoy a two-and-a-half-hour long boat excursion, which includes a free hot drink for colder days.
From £49.99 per adult, the activity offers you the chance to see the pod of five dolphins, including adult male Lunar, adult female Zuzu and her young calf, as well adult female Bodhi.
Two-year-old Clyde, named after his beloved home, proves to be a fan favourite with visitors.
Visitors can also take in the stunning surroundings on short day excursions, including Loch Lomond, Inveraray Castle, and Stirling Castle, which was often frequented by the Queen of Scots.
Film buffs may even spot some locations used for the backdrop of the iconic Braveheart.
And the area also has ties to the silver screen, with Martin Compston calling the scenic town home.
The actor and former footballer discussed splitting his time between Nevada and his home town in an interview with the BBC.
“A warm Vegas night under the stars is lovely but the view we have from the couch in Greenock, where you see these huge cruise ships coming in from all over the world, is also amazing,”; he said.
And if you’re not on a shore excursion, you can nab a hotel room in the town for as little as £68 per night.
As well as a wide variety of activities, the town also offers a bustling night life, from sports bars and gastro pubs to family-friendly restaurants.
For a high-end experience, take in the stunning interior of the local Old Bank Bar.
Or opt for a more affordable drinking session at the Tail O’ The Bank, which offers stunning waterside views.
