Work starts on new £10m support hub
WORK has started on construction of a new £10 million community hub for people in Inverclyde with learning disabilities.
The facility is being built on the former Hector McNeil Swimming Pool site in Brachelston Street, Greenock.
The project is being led and funded by Inverclyde Council/Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) alongside development partner hub West Scotland.
The new-build facility will have space for up to 50 adults and young people with learning disabilities and autism with scope for other community use.
It will replace the existing Fitzgerald Centre in Greenock and the former McPherson Centre in Gourock, which closed a number of years ago.
Work started this week on the development, which has been designed by architects Holmes Miller and is being built by main contractors Ogilvie Construction.
Councillor Robert Moran, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “This is a significant moment for the council/HSCP but, more importantly, for service users and staff who will benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities.
“The development of a new community hub has been a long time in the making and follows an extensive service review to ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of the people we support, as well as their families and our staff.
“I’m also pleased that after more than 20 years, the former Hector McNeil Baths site is finally being brought back to productive use with a facility fit for the 21st Century.”
The development is being funded by Inverclyde Council with a contribution from the Integration Joint Board (IJB) – the organisation that oversees local health and social care functions delegated to it by the council/health board and delivered by the HSCP.
The project has also attracted a grant of almost £1m from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Fund/Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) due to the low carbon design of the building in keeping with the council’s net zero action plan, which sets out a series of objectives and associated actions to reduce harmful emissions.
Councillor Francesca Brennan, convener of Inverclyde Council’s social work and social care scrutiny panel and a member of the IJB, said: “A development of this size and scale is never easy and we’ve had a few bumps in the road along the way but a huge amount of credit must go to council and HSCP staff alongside our various partners in getting us to where we are today with work now underway on what will be a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that the whole of Inverclyde can be proud of.
“I’m so pleased that we are developing a great space for and with adults with learning disabilities and autism that will meet their needs.
“The fact that the project has a low carbon focus and that we are creating a building that is more environmentally friendly in line with our net zero ambitions is also really important.”
The exterior design draws inspiration from Greenock’s famous Sugar Sheds while the internal layout and external landscaping has been developed through partnership working with learning disability staff and extensive consultation with service users and families.
The aim is to provide an enhanced sensory experience for those users with complex needs, including those with co-existing conditions such as autism, visual and perceptual impairments, physical and sensory disabilities, dementia and life-limiting conditions.
Careful consideration has been given to the use of materials, texture, colour and noise to provide the best possible environment for service users and staff indoors and outdoors.
Another key focus of the project is achieving enhanced energy efficiencies and a low operational carbon footprint, including the use of roof-mounted solar panels to help offset emissions.
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Iain Marley, chief executive of hub West, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone with our partner Inverclyde Council.
“Thanks to a commitment to collaboration and no small amount of skill, the project team has overcome complex challenges to deliver a high-quality design that maximises the site’s potential.
“The new facilities are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of today’s users while offering the flexibility to adapt to future demands.
“In addition to the delivery of the new building, we are proud that our commitment to social investment is creating meaningful opportunities for skills development, employment, and community support, benefiting both local people and businesses.”
It is expected that the building will be ready in early 2026.
Grier Edmead, operations director for Ogilvie Construction, said: “We are proud to be working with Inverclyde Council and hub West Scotland to build such an important new community facility.
“As we now start site operations, we will liaise with the local residents to ensure the minimum of disruption throughout the project and look forward to handing over a first-class, purpose-built centre in early 2026.”
Some current service users and staff joined representatives from the council/HSCP and partners to celebrate the start of construction work.
