A DEAL to sell a former adult care unit to a housing developer whose financial accounts are months overdue has been agreed in secret by councillors.

Members of Inverclyde's environment and regeneration committee voted in private session to follow a directive from officials to offload the McPherson Centre in Gourock.

Titan Homes (Scotland) Ltd - which has failed to file paperwork with Companies House - emerged as the council's preferred bidder after submitting the highest offer for the property.

Local authority documentation obtained by the Telegraph shows that Titan submitted an offer of £375,000.

Its proposal is conditional on receiving planning permission to build 26 semi-detached and one detached house on the site at McPherson Drive.

Bids from other developers rejected by the committee were for £330,000 to build 15 properties, and one of £305,000 for the same density of housing proposed by Titan.

According to Companies House records, accounts have been overdue since last December and Titan has only one 26-year-old director following the resignations of three others - two in January last year and one in 2017.

Titan also has two dealings marked 'outstanding' concerning a firm called Lendswift Bridging Security Ltd in a section of its records under the title of 'charges'.

Although it has a business address at Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow, the Telegraph could find no direct telephone or email contact details for Titan Homes (Scotland) Ltd.

It is understood that there are no objections in principle to a residential development but concerns have been expressed about increased traffic in the area and a lack of 'open space' to satisfy planning rules.

The McPherson Centre was declared 'surplus' to requirements in 2018 and subsequently closed following a merger with Greenock's Fitzgerald Centre.

The council today confirmed it has now entered into discussions with Titan Homes (Scotland) Ltd.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "We are agreeing a sale with the preferred bidder, subject to standard terms and conditions.

"The offer was the highest on the table and represents the best deal for the council and the public purse.

"The matter has now been referred to the respective heads of legal and finance under delegated powers to conclude the sale and necessary due diligence.

"Any future developments will still be subject to planning permission."