WORK is due to start on a new £2m residential home in Port Glasgow as a plan to give all youngsters in care top class facilities finally gets back on track.

Inverclyde Council's ambitious bid to replace all three of its residential units with new houses has been hit with setbacks.

The new Crosshill in Port Glasgow was due to open in 2018 but has been hit with several delays and then the builders JB Bennett went bust last February.

Over a year on, emergency powers have been used to allocate half a million pounds of Covid-19 response cash to the project and get a new contractor in place.

This will be the last of the new-builds in a multi-million pound programme to replace outdated children's homes, with Kylemore and The View opening in Greenock in recent years.

Councillor Elizabeth Robertson, leader of the SNP council group and a foster carer, said: "I think first of all we have to extend some grace to everyone involved - this has been a very difficult year.

"I know the young people I have spoken to are disappointed they are not there yet, they are all really keen to get in to their new place.

"But the staff have done a brilliant job of keeping them all safe and looking after their needs in the meantime.

"It is so important as these are places that children call home.

"Many care experienced children have also been unable to see family because of shielding and that has been very hard for them all."

The new contractors are due to go on site over the next few weeks.

Children who were living in the former demolished unit are staying temporarily at the former Neil Street home in Greenock until Crosshill is ready.

When complete it will have six bedrooms – all with en suite facilities – along with a lounge, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and laundry.

Work stopped on both Crosshill and an extension of Gourock Primary School when JB Bennett ran into trouble last February.

Bonds were in place for both projects and will be recovered when the project is complete.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the unexpected loss of the original contractor right before the start of the pandemic and then the pandemic itself, including lockdown and other associated factors, created a perfect storm which impacted on the project.

"These factors were all outwith our control.

“We’ve worked as quickly as we can to recommence both projects and we’re pleased to now be in a position where contracts have been awarded and work is due to restart imminently.

“Following discussions with the new contractor, we expect work on the Crosshill development to begin within the next few weeks."