Contractors are focusing on demolishing Oak Mall shopping centre’s eastern section, after the demolition of Hector McNeil House.

Mainly funded by the UK government and led by Inverclyde Council, the Central Greenock redevelopment also involves the removal of the A78 flyover at High Street and Bullring Roundabout, of which a low-level road and signalised junction will take its place. 

The project will also see a new shopping centre entrance alongside green spaces and public areas. 

The demolition of the Oak Mall’s eastern wing is being led by main contractor Balfour Beatty; the demolition is expected to go on for a number of months. 

The demolition of Hector McNeil House, which began in March this year, was mostly completed at the end of May. However, contractors are still operating on site to sort and get rid of rubble and additional materials. 

The famous Charles Anderson murals on the outside of the building have been carefully removed and stored, with this also being done for other internal artworks. 

The Greenock transformation intends to remove old infrastructure, including the A78 flyover and the shopping centre’s eastern section. It also intends to enhance waterfront access.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, vice-convener of environment and regeneration at Inverclyde Council’s and chair of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum, said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get the Central Greenock project to the stage we’re at today where we’re seeing the physical transformation unfolding with the removal of Hector McNeil House.

“The start of demolition on the eastern section of the Oak Mall is another key milestone in the transformation of the town centre.”

Clocherty added: “This section of the mall and the flyover which goes over the top of it are in a poor condition and there have been no tenants in this area of the centre for quite some time.

“A more compact shopping centre with a new entrance, improved public spaces, and better access for pedestrians and vehicles to and from other parts of the town centre and waterfront will provide a much-improved retail offer for everyone and help make central Greenock fit for the 21st Century.”

During the summer, the main roadworks aspect of the project will be underway. During the demolition process, the Oak Mall will be open and town centre access will be present throughout the wider Central Greenock project.

During roadworks, diversions will take place but alterations to the roads network has already been underway ahead of the works, such as Ratho Street’s realignment, a new pedestrian crossing on Dunlop Street at Notre Dame High, and mini-roundabouts on Dalrymple Street and Container Way, which are on both sides of Laird Street.