A FLAGSHIP project to encourage people to move into Inverclyde by selling them housing plots is still waiting for its first buyer.

Eighty people expressed interest in the Kilmacolm development when it was launched three years ago as part of Inverclyde Council’s £1 million strategy to tackle the area’s population problem.

It offers incomers the chance to build their own homes in Leperstone Avenue, and caused a stir at the 2014 Ideal Home Show in Glasgow, with interest being shown from as far afield as Dublin, London and the Highlands.

Preparation work on the site finished early this year, after months of complaints from residents about the noise, and a council spokesman said Slater Hogg estate agents started trying to sell the plots two months ago with what is described as a ‘soft approach’.

They contacted all of the people on the original database who had asked to be kept informed about the project.

The council spokesman declined to say how many people have followed up on their expressions of interest, or how many plots have been sold. 

The Tele understands none of them have been snapped up yet.

The council’s spokesman said formal marketing of the plots started once the contractor and the utility companies completed their works and were off site. 

He added: “Advertising boards have now been erected at the site and brochures have been launched.The first tranche of sites to be released to the market will be plots one, two and three.”

The Tele asked how over-budget the project is so far, and what is the total cost.

The council said it had a budget of £250,000, but declined to reveal how much of it had been spent thus far, pointing out that part of the scheme involves income coming back in from the sale of the plots.

Their spokesman said: “As part of the re-population proposals, the spending on this site was always seen as an investment in the wider promotion of Inverclyde as a place to live, and not a money-making venture.

“The final account for the project is still to be finalised, so it is not possible to say at this stage that it is over or even under budget.”

Asked if the council will consider selling plots to people in Inverclyde if there is not enough interest from outside of the area, he said: “The release of land was geared towards the wider promotion of Inverclyde as a place to live to people from outside of Inverclyde.

“That has been the long-standing agreement by the council – and continues to be the approach.”