AN ambitious plan to revitalise Greenock using £20million of UK Government funding has been launched.
The 10-year Pride in Place blueprint was unveiled today by the independent Greenock Town Board, which brings together representatives from the business community, third sector, other local representatives, including the area’s MP, Martin McCluskey, and Inverclyde Council.
It sets out a vision for the future of the town with the key aim that Greenock will be ‘an inclusive, enterprising place with an attractive, thriving town centre’ by 2036, as well as a ‘vibrant visitor destination and a town that people are proud to call home’.
The plan will be developed and rolled out over the next decade using £20million of UK Government funding, and potential additional external investment, and will complement recent and ongoing regeneration projects.
The first two Pride in Place initiatives are aimed at supporting businesses and developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Thriving Town Centre programme will help make the area a safer and more attractive place and the Future Ready Greenock project will equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in business.
The Pride in Place plan was launched by Greenock Town Board vice-chair, Dr Poonam Gupta, who is the founder and chief executive of Greenock-based PG Paper, and Mr McCluskey, who also sits on the board.
They were joined by fellow board members and pupils and staff from Inverclyde Academy and Notre Dame High, who took part in workshops at the Beacon Arts Centre as part of the new Future Ready Greenock programme.
Dr Gupta said: “Greenock has a remarkable history shaped by enterprise, innovation, maritime trade and global connections and the Pride in Place Plan gives us an opportunity to build on that legacy while creating a bold vision for the future.
“As vice-chair of the Greenock Town Board and a Greenock-based business owner, I have seen first-hand the talent, resilience and ambition that exists within our community.
“This £20million investment represents a transformative opportunity to revitalise our town centre, support local businesses, create opportunities for young people and celebrate our heritage.
“By creating a more vibrant and attractive place to live, work, visit and invest, we are laying the foundations for long-term growth and regeneration. We can create a thriving Greenock that honours its past while embracing its future.”
The Pride in Place plan is based on four key priorities: reconnect – improving physical connectivity, strengthening communities and celebrating Greenock’s heritage; regenerate – establishing Greenock as an enterprising town and vibrant visitor destination; remake – investing in the town centre, historic environment and in the skills of local people; and repopulate – attracting new residents and enabling the delivery of new homes in the town.
Mr McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, said: “This £20million investment from the UK Government is a clear vote of confidence in Greenock’s future.
“The Pride in Place plan sets out a bold vision to revitalise our town centre, support local businesses and give our young people the skills and opportunities they need to succeed.
“This plan is the result of consultation with the local community and local businesses. It sets out the priorities that people across the community have called for.
“This is about more than regeneration itself. Restoring pride and confidence in our town is of the utmost importance. From making the town centre safer and more attractive to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs get started, the plan will deliver real benefits for people across our community.
“Alongside major investments already being made at Inchgreen Marine Park and across Port Glasgow and Greenock town centres, this funding demonstrates a long-term commitment from the UK Government to Inverclyde’s future. By working together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive Greenock, one that people are proud to call home, to build their businesses and raise their families in.”
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “It’s fantastic to see the progress local partners are making to ensure people in Greenock benefit from this £20million UK Government investment, part of our £492 million Pride in Place fund to tackle deprivation and revitalise communities across Scotland. By putting spending decisions in the hands of local people, we are helping to build stronger neighbourhoods that are great places to live, work and play.
“With over £60 million going into local growth projects in Inverclyde and ongoing support through our £520 million commitment to the Glasgow City Region Deal, we are removing barriers to economic growth and improving living standards in the area.”
The Greenock Town Board currently has 10 members and is chaired by Lord Willie Haughey alongside vice-chair, Dr Gupta.
The other members are: councillors Francesca Brennan and Elizabeth Robertson; Stuart McMillan MSP; Mr McCluskey; Inverclyde police chief inspector David Doherty; CVS Inverclyde chief executive Charlene Elliott; Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce president Lizzy Todd; and managing director of Smiths of Greenock, Keith Wilson.
The board will soon be recruiting for two new community representatives to join them and would welcome expressions of interest.
