WORK is expected to start soon on a new Burger King in Port Glasgow and it could be open by the summer.

Developers hope to start building a drive-through at the former Clydeport filling station site in Greenock Road in May.

Craig Connelly, owner of the Kessington Group, which is the project management and design build contractor for the job, says construction will begin at the site once building work has been approved by Inverclyde Council.

He said: “The company which owns the site employed us to do the design and build work.

“Once we are finished, Burger King will take it over as a tenant and fit it out.

“The job is now going up for a building warrant this month.

“Normally this takes about three to four months for the council to process.

“Once it is agreed we hope to be on site to start digging and construction some time in May.”

A ground investigation was completed at the site before Christmas.

Craig added: “Once we have the building warrant approved, it will take about 20 weeks to complete the car park and drainage.

“We would hope to finish it by the end of the summer.”

The barren site is owned by a company called Raphaelson Holdings Limited, which is registered at an address in Clydebank. Bosses at the fast food giant have said that the restaurant will create new jobs in the area.

The company said: “There are a number of catering outlets in the vicinity and this development would not only provide new additional jobs, but also tidy-up this highly visible corner of Port Glasgow.”

In May last year, bosses at Burger King announced plans to close their long standing outlet in Greenock town centre.

However, the restaurant on West Blackhall Street remains open and it’s unclear whether staff at Greenock could be redeployed to the Port development.

Burger King failed to respond to a request for a comment.