WORK on a new gym and restaurant as part of the multi-million pound next phase of the Port Glasgow retail park development could start as early as the summer, the Tele can reveal.

Bosses from Clydebuilt have confirmed more units are planned to add to the hugely-successful B&Q and Costa Coffee outlets and The Waterwheel restaurant, which all opened earlier this year.

The next phase of building work is set to include a gymnasium, restaurant and other smaller retail units – with work set to start within the next six months.

Talks are already taking place with a variety of retailers who have expressed an interest in setting up shop in the Port.

A public consultation event showcasing Clydebuilt’s plans for the land, between B&Q and Tesco, will also take place in the Port Town Hall on Thursday from noon until 8pm.

If all goes well, a formal planning application is expected to be submitted in December to press ahead with the next stage of the redevelopment.

Alastair Dickie, development director at Ediston Real Estate — who manage Clydebuilt — said: “I think it will be a sensational development when it’s done.

“In terms of planning, we will submit in December and be on site in early summer.

“We will provide details of the investment and cost at the consultation and do not want to release anything prior to this.” Mr Dickie added: “We are currently talking to a number of retailers with regards to the site.” Clydebuilt is part of the Strathclyde Pension Fund which bought a section of the former Scott Lithgow shipyard site from Gallagher Developments last month for an undisclosed sum.

Bosses pledged a £30 million investment to create additional retail space and extra jobs for Inverclyde.

The pension fund has members who are employees of Inverclyde Council and all of the other councils which made up the former Strathclyde Region, and is one of the biggest public sector pension funds in the UK.

Clydebuilt’s plans will be on display and representatives from the developer on hand to answer questions on Thursday.

They will also be shown in the town hall next Friday from noon until 8pm.

The organisation says it wants to keep people fully informed about its plans adding that the public’s views are ‘valued and will be taken into consideration’.