COMPLETION of the new £20 million health centre in Greenock will be delayed by two months because of the coronavirus outbreak.

At a recent site meeting health board bosses were told that there would be a hold-up, with developers now looking at early 2021 for the handover.

Work on the site was suspended when the pandemic arrived.

The project resumed shortly afterwards, with new safety restrictions in place.

But operating with half the workforce - on top of social distancing and allowing workers to self isolate as necessary - has put everything behind schedule.

In a report to the Inverclyde Joint Integration Board, chief officer Louise Long said: "It is running approximately eight and a half weeks behind schedule due to the impact of COVID-19 with impact of site closure, site restrictions, limited numbers of operatives due to self-isolating, social distancing measures, furlough of subcontractors and material suppliers.

"The site is currently operating on a reduce workforce of around 50 per cent capacity."

The new state-of-the-art centre on the site of the former Wellington Academy school will replace the current facility in nearby Duncan Street.

Members of the integration joint board, which oversees local health and social care services, have been told the delay will allow GP practices time to review their recovery plans.

In a separate development, a meeting has been scheduled with CVS Inverclyde and other voluntary sector organisations to consider transport services for the new facility.

And the joint board has been advised that the design team is working closely NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde procurement staff to ensure all equipment will be ready in time.

Telecommunications firm Openreach recently laid cables to provide broadband into the site, as infrastructure work continues.