RESTORATION of one of Inverclyde’s most iconic buildings is now complete after a comprehensive £5 million refurbishment.

Work on Greenock’s Grade A-listed Custom House is now finished after six years of painstaking work.

It was in a sorry state and there were fears for its future when it was vacated by the then HM Customs and Excise in 2011.

But Riverside Inverclyde (RI) and acquired the 19th century building in 2011 for £1.1m and since then a further £4.1m has been spent on an extensive refurbishment programme.

Upgrades were carried out over four phases which has allowed companies such as PG Paper and Toshiba to take up office space when it became available.

The final piece of the jigsaw was the refurbishment of the upstairs Long Room, which has now been completed, featuring just over 4,000 square feet of modern business accommodation.

Fiona Maguire, acting chief executive of RI, said: “It’s been a long time coming and a lot of money and it looks incredible.

“It’s two-hundred years since the first foundation stone was laid in May 1817 so it’s quite fitting that we are opening the doors, finally refurbished after all these years.”

The new-look Long Room in the upper west wing features a large open-plan, modern office suite with the adjoining former harbourmaster’s office, complete with an original King George III fireplace, and two other offices, including their unique curved doors.

There is also a reception space, contemporary conference room and kitchen facilities.

But the building retains many of its charming original features such as the decorative indoor support columns, windows and grand staircase - complete with original royal crest - leading to the east and west wings upstairs.
Andrew Bowman, head of business development for RI, said:

“The building speaks for itself.

“It has great, affordable office space with fantastic transport links, close to lots of local amenities, the town centre and there’s the added bonus of being right next to the waterfront with the views and the boats and the Waverley passing by.

“We will be marketing it as a city centre office in a town centre location.

“In terms of what you would pay in Glasgow or London there are huge operational savings.”

The latest phase of the work was carried out by Greenock company WH Kirkwood and one young trainee was recruited on the back of it.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, who is depute leader of Inverclyde Council and an RI board member, said: “It’s important for us to see local contractors getting jobs and the chance of a local person getting an apprenticeship.”

Downstairs the past meets the present in a new Burns exhibition space run by Greenock Burns Club honouring the bard and looking at the history of the Custom House.

Margaret Dickson, secretary and a past president of the ‘Mother Club’, said: “We are thrilled.

“We’ve had great fun working on it.

“It’s really keeping the history alive.”