WORK on a new £1.7 million children's home in Port Glasgow will not start again until next year.

The trouble-hit Crosshill Children Home project has suffered a series of delays since construction first began more than two years ago.

It is now not expected to be finished until next summer - two years late.

After a number of problems early on, the project was halted at the start of the year when contractors JB Bennett Ltd went bust.

It was a double blow for the council as the building firm was also working on the Gourock Primary School extension at the other end of the district.

Attempts to appoint a new contractor were then hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bosses now hope to get the project back on track as quickly as possible.

A council spokesman said: "With regards to Crosshill, we hope to put it back out to tender in the next few weeks with a view to work starting on site in February and completion in the summer."

Councillors have been briefed on the the delays to the investment programme.

When the project began back in August 2018 there were problems following the demolition of the old building, with the foundation works and drainage.

Main contractors JB Bennett ceased work on site on February 25 this year after hitting financial trouble.

The site was secured, with arrangements made to address temporary works to protect the substantially completed building.

The council were then told by the company's administrators they would have to progress the situation from there.

Project consultants visited the site and have drawn up a completion of works contract.

A revised programme will be advised before it goes back out to tender.

The former Neil Street Children’s Home in Greenock is meanwhile still being used as temporary accommodation for the young people who were looked after at Crosshill.