Greenock's sugar sheds left on shelf six years after 3.7m spend

Published: 23 Mar 2015 11:00

GREENOCKS iconic sugar sheds have been left on the shelf by the recession and no one is interested in developing them at the moment.

From left at the sugar sheds and marina were Craig Latimer, a director of Blue Sea Marinas, who manage the James Watt Dock Marina, Brian Lavalette and Aubrey Fawcett.

Thats the not-so-sweet news from the sheds joint owners, the James Watt Dock LLP (Limited Liability Partnership).

Its now six years since 3.7 million was spent making the structures wind and watertight in the hope of ambitious development, but plans were hit on the head by the recession.

The LLP, which is made up of regeneration body Riverside Inverclyde and Greenock Ocean Terminal owners Peel Ports, secured planning permission in 2011 for a business centre, cafe and bar along with two car parks, but that was also hit by the recession.

But RI chief executive Aubrey Fawcett and Peels property asset manager, Brian Lavalette, say they are continuing to market the sheds in the hope of development.

Mr Fawcett said: RI and Peel got together in 2008 with the aim of opening up the site, and as part of that there was the new road and roundabout.

The establishment of the marina has been very successful and is going from strength to strength, and weve looked at doing various things with the sugar sheds.

Mr Lavalette said the original masterplan was for a range of commercial, leisure and retail uses, with some housing in the upper levels of sheds a and c.

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Greenock's sugar sheds left on shelf six years after 3.7m spend