Council officials rejected plans to extend an Inverclyde housing estate

Briar Homes has seen its application to develop vacant land within Kingston Dock, pictured, knocked back.

The company applied for planning permission in principle to construct an unspecified amount of properties off Lithgow Way in Port Glasgow, although documents submitted by the firm said the plot could accommodate up to 25 new houses based on previous council estimates.

The application was lodged in September last year and local authority officials have now rejected it under delegated powers.

Council planners say the proposals are against their policies as the land is designated open space which is 'of value to the visual setting and pattern' of the area and 'contributes to the creation of a successful place', something which would be 'eroded' by such a development.

The site is, however, earmarked for 17 private houses in the authority's latest local plan.

The application received one public objection and none from any council departments or external agencies.

Briar Homes can appeal the ruling and take it to a hearing of the Local Review Body, when councillors would make a final decision.

Paul Kelly, the company's managing director, said: "We have just received the notice of refusal so need to consider the contents and take appropriate advice before we comment further.

"However, we are surprised that a site designated for residential development - and with no technical objections from other departments - has been refused, particularly when most local authorities are working to ease the recognised housing shortage."

A number of bids have been made in the past to build on the 1.6-acre plot.

The last attempt was in 2013 by land owners Clydeport for 17 houses, which attracted 24 public objections.

Councillors refused permission because the area was earmarked for commercial use at the time.

Elected members decided it should be retained for that purpose for five years to allow any potential developer to come forward.

The applicant unsuccessfully appealed to the Scottish Government and an independent reporter sided with councillors, adding that the open space should be retained.

The reporter said extra housing would make the area 'cramped' and existing views of the river would be adversely affected.

Kingston Dock takes in parts of Greenock and Port Glasgow and is home to 345 houses and 30 flats built between 2011 and 2017.

The vast majority were constructed by Persimmon Homes.