AMBITIOUS plans have been tabled to create a new 'urban village' in Inverclyde with 650 new homes.

The proposed development on the site of the former Inverkip Power Station site has been lodged by landowners Scottish Power.

It has submitted an application for a development called Brueacre Village, which may have to go before a full public hearing.

As the in-principle application was lodged, bosses from the energy firm said that the development would give a new lease of life to the site, which was cleared in 2013-14.

The proposals include a village centre with retail and community facilities plus open spaces, including a public park.

There would also be a network of foot and cycle paths established.

Improvements to the road network would be required to pave the way for it.

A planned programme of works proposes a new roundabout on the A78, which will form the main access to the site, and an upgraded junction at Inverkip North/Kip Marina.

Alan Aitkenhead, Scottish Power’s head of estates, said: “A huge amount of effort has gone into getting these plans finalised for submission to the council and we thank everyone involved, including local people who took the time to let us know what they thought during our public consultation.

“This is an exciting development opportunity that will support the regeneration and transformation of an extensive unused site, while removing a former fossil fuel asset from our property portfolio.

"We look forward to seeing the proposals progress through the planning process and a determination being made in due course.”

The plans for the site, which extends to more than 100 acres, were developed in consultation with local people and communities.

Consultation events were held in 2019 in Wemyss Bay Community Centre to show the public the plans for the 'coastal village'.

At that time some Wemyss Bay residents raised concerns about the increase in traffic.

Councillor David Wilson, chair of the planning board, says that the application - along with a separate proposal for hundreds of homes at Spango Valley further along the A78 corridor - represents a sign of optimism in the area.

He said: "This is a strong indication, that with proposed development at Spango Valley, developers are giving Inverclyde a vote of confidence."

It is believed that as a major application there may be a public hearing held in connection with the application.

If the proposal gets the go ahead, Scottish Power plans to sell the site to housebuilders to take the development forward.

The former power station chimney was brought down in a controlled blast eight years ago.

It was the tallest free standing structure in Scotland and third tallest in the UK at 236m or 778ft.

The station was designed to meet peak demand and provide flexibility to the electricity supply network but due to the soaring price of oil in the 1970s it was never commercially operated, except for a short period during 1984/5.

The plant was kept as a strategic reserve until it was mothballed, with the demolition and clearance following several years later.