A DECADE-long £20million vision for Greenock aims for it to be ‘a vibrant visitor destination and a town that people are proud to call home’.
A plan has been drawn up focusing on the town centre and waterfront, with the priorities of regenerating, remaking, reconnecting and repopulating Greenock.
The Pride in Place initiative is funded by the UK Government with around £2million a year to be invested in the area each year.
The specially-created Greenock Town Board has decision-making responsibility for how it is spent. It is chaired by Lord Willie Haughey and its membership includes local leaders and elected members.
The board’s 10-year vision is that: ‘By 2036, Greenock will be an inclusive, enterprising place with an attractive, thriving town centre. It will be a vibrant visitor destination and a town that people are proud to call home’.
A report updating Inverclyde councillors states: “The regeneration plan sets out four key priorities which will support the realisation of this vision and identifies the town centre and adjacent waterfront as the area which will be the primary focus for intervention and investment. The vision and priorities were both informed and endorsed by wide stakeholder engagement.”
The priorities are:
To reconnect Greenock — improving physical connectivity, strengthening communities and celebrating Greenock’s heritage
To regenerate Greenock — establishing Greenock as an enterprising town and vibrant visitor destination
To remake Greenock — investing in the town centre, historic built environment and in the skills of local people
To repopulate Greenock — attracting new residents and enabling the delivery of new homes.
Eight priority projects are now under development:
Reconnecting Greenock Town Centre — public realm and placemaking interventions that will build on the £24million Central Greenock works and improve connectivity across the town centre and with the waterfront
Greenock Enterprise Hub — the establishment of a ‘one-stop shop’ for business providing high-quality space and support for start-ups and growing businesses
Future Ready Greenock — an enterprise and skills programme hosted by Greenock’s schools, aimed at ensuring the next generation have the skills they need to succeed in business and in growth sectors
Thriving Town Centre — support for town centre businesses and improvements
Proud Past, Fantastic Future — support for community groups to celebrate Greenock’s past and shape its future
The Tale of the Bank — working with heritage funders to develop a project aimed at supporting heritage-led regeneration
Town Centre Living — enabling new homes at the heart of Greenock town centre, aimed at helping to repopulate the area while also supported town centre regeneration
Place Branding and Marketing — raising Greenock’s profile and promoting the town positively, to locals, visitors and prospective investors
