Revised £31m Regeneration Plan For Clune Park Estate

Councillors are being asked to approve an updated masterplan for the rundown Clune Park estate in Port Glasgow.

Officials are recommending that Inverclyde Council agrees to a £31milllion transformation of the neighbourhood, with 135 new homes and landscaping proposed.

Phase one would focus on the area of the former Clune Park school and church plus the resource centre. There would be a total of 30 units, a mixture of flats, cottage flats and two-storey housing.

A report to councillors states: “At this point, the proposal involves the retention of the school façade although members will be aware that there are still issues to resolve around the safety of the remaining building following the fire.

“If it is the case that the building is not salvageable the masterplan will be amended to take this into account.”

Phase two would include using the south carriageway of Glasgow Road as part of the site. It would consist of 105 units, made up of flats, cottage flats, two and three-storey houses.

The report continues: “The masterplan will now be used as the basis for the appointment of a registered social landlord as a partner to the council to take the development of Clune Park through to its conclusion.

“Members will be aware that this will involve the acquisition of the remaining 161 properties in the Clune Park estate. At the time of this report, the council owns 269.”

A blueprint for the estate was originally drawn up in 2018 but officials felt that it needed to be updated in the light of issues with affordability and the changing housing need in Inverclyde.

Ownership of the buildings within the estate is divided amongst Inverclyde Council, River Clyde Homes and various private landlords.

The preferred option for the second phase of the redevelopment would extend the site area to cover the south carriageway of Glasgow Road and create a new cycle path alongside Glasgow Road for an 'active travel route' running from Fyfe Park Terrace to Clune Brae.

The existing park at the west entrance would be upgraded and a new 'pocket park' would be provided at the east end of the site.

This option would cost just over £31m, or around £231,000 per housing unit, while the alternative would cost just over £25m.

The plans also outline the potential future refurbishment and development of an area west of the church and resource centre.

The council committee will meet on November 2 to make a decision on the recommendations.

This article appeared in Inverclyde Now.