A plot of land which once formed part of the former Tate & Lyle sugar refinery in Greenock is being proposed as a new private housing development by Sandy and James Easdale.
The 5.2-acre elevated site on Drumfrochar Road was sold by property agents Bowman Rebecchi last October after the long-term vacant site closed in 1997.
Development plans have since been submitted by Dalglen Investments, which jointly purchased the site as part of an £800m property portfolio.
Dalglen’s property investment operations are behind several housing projects throughout Scotland, including the former IBM site in Greenock, the former Tullis Russell paper factory in Glenrothes and a waterside housing development at Dumbarton, creating around 3,000 new homes within the next decade.
This proposed £15m project in Greenock will comprise 46 new homes, with a new double entry point from Lynedoch Street created from the development which will be split across two levels.
It is anticipated that 40 jobs - including at least 15 apprenticeships - will be created through the construction phase, which could last up to two years, with the site identified as a priority place as part of Inverclyde Council’s Local Development Plan.
A mixture of three-bed detached and semi-detached properties are proposed, with the site stretching along the east of Drumfrochar Road, adjacent to M&J Timber and Wellington Park Bowling Club.
Sandy Easdale said: “Other private housing developments close to the Drumfrochar site previously have proven to be extremely popular and have provided great family homes for locals and long-term ownership.
“We see no reason why this wouldn’t be the case with our site, and we expect this to be a highly popular development.”
The application has been prepared and submitted by the planning and design consultancy firm Rebecchi Architectural.
James Easdale added: “The ongoing development and economic improvement of this part of Greenock is something we are deeply passionate about, and further supports our ongoing investment into nearby areas at Baker Street, Ingliston Street and Orchard Street.
“We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to bring this historic site back to life while also creating much-needed homes for locals while creating further repopulation opportunities.”
Sandy and James Easdale, 54 and 50, were new entries in this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, with their fortune - estimated at £1.4bn - made through transport and property.
Both continue to invest heavily into Inverclyde, with the proposed development further complimenting Inverclyde Council’s wider regeneration of the Drumfrochar area, which includes the £3m B7054 road realignment and a £1.8m enterprise hub.
The proposed development is now set to be reviewed by the council's planners.
Sandy and James Easdale, through their conglomerate Arranglen and its subsidiary companies, have a wide range of business interests spanning transport, manufacturing, commercial property and land investment.
The Easdale family owns McGill's Group, the largest independent UK bus operator.
The brothers are also spearheading more than £800m of property developments, including a 130-acre site at the former Tullis Russell papermill in Glenrothes and the rejuvenation of the 70-acre former IBM site in Greenock.
They are also driving forward the redevelopment of the former Watt Brothers store at the heart of Glasgow.
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