A PLAN to realign one of Greenock’s busiest roads at a cost of £3m has been unveiled by council bosses.

Local authority officials have unveiled details of a proposal to change the layout of Baker Street.

They have come up with the proposal in order to help create a new business park.

Officials have been looking closely at the idea and councillors on the environment and regeneration committee have now approved it.

Research will also be carried out to look at the ‘wider economic benefits’ of realigning Baker Street for the benefit of the Broomhill area of the town, with a study commissioned to explore it.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, the council’s regeneration vice convener, said: “Broomhill has huge potential for Greenock and for Inverclyde.

“We are determined to do all that we can to create opportunity for investment and new jobs.

“This particular project is central to these plans and will open up a range of possibilities for the area.” Regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde and the council have already submitted a first stage application to the Scottish Government seeking money from its regeneration capital grants funding pot for the proposal.

They have requested £1.5m towards the realignment of Baker Street and the preparation of ground for a new industrial business park.

The road reroute blueprint comes as housing association River Clyde Homes are currently investing around £26m in refurbishing more than 650 existing properties for Broomhill residents.

The estate revamp includes a £9m energy efficiency programme in partnership with Scottish Gas to make homes warmer and more energy efficient.

Some of the funding for the project was secured from the Scottish Government for the project by Inverclyde Council. Councillors are expected to receive a further update from officials on the Baker Street proposal later this year.