Proposed housing development in Greenock town centre

Bosses at the Oak Mall are proposing a development of around 130 flats to follow their proposed demolition of the eastern side of the shopping centre.

The plans, unveiled at a public exhibition this week, include two residential blocks, either side of a wide pedestrian link between Clyde Square and a new entrance to the Mall which would be just to the west of the A78 High Street.

The shopping centre's owners were previously refused permission for bulldozing the eastern wing, with Inverclyde Council citing a lack of certainty surrounding the future use of the prominent gap site that would leave behind.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said he welcomed the revised plan.

He told the Tele: "In general, I welcome the fact that there's a revised plan brought forward.

"Obviously it's important that there's a long-term future for the Oak Mall and a long-term future for that part of Greenock."

When the original planning application was rejected officials highlighted the impact the changes would have on the historic environment, along with the design of a proposed new mall façade.

Developers say the project would be 'phased' and the earmarked residential sites would initially be grassed over until the flats were built.

Designs for a potential future rethink of Clyde Square have also been drawn up but they will not be part of the planning application when it is eventually submitted.

The section the Mall wants rid of has a high level of vacancies and extends from beneath the A78 High Street, up to and including the existing entrance on to Clyde Square.