Scout Group Submits Plans For Community Hub Project

The 32nd Greenock and District Scout Hall in Bank Street. Image: Bowman Rebecchi

A Greenock Scout group has drawn up proposals to renovate its building and turn it into a community hub.

The 32nd Greenock and District Group was awarded money from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to carry out major improvements to its premises in Bank Street, Greenock.

The property was formerly a residential care building but was taken over by the Scouts through a community asset transfer agreement in 2020, which saw the site of their former Mearns Street headquarters transferred to Inverclyde Council.

The proposals come after the organisation, along with Inverclyde Council, secured a grant of £515,000 from the Scottish Government in May to revamp the Scouts' community hub in Greenock's Bank Street.

Plans to install replacement windows, doors, cladding, roof tiles and trims at the building are now under consideration by local authority planning officials.

The Scouts' planning application also includes proposals to erect a covered canopy on the building's rear elevation, a two-storey garage extension to the rear, and the formation of a new entrance vestibule.

The Scouts had to raise 10 per cent of the project cost themselves and did so through a community fund-raising campaign as well as a successful application for £10,000 from the National Lottery. 

The new planning application has been lodged by local firm Rebecchi Architectural on behalf of Mark Sinnamon and the 32nd Greenock Scout Group.

Council officers have been working with the Scouts and the community hub committee to develop detailed renovation plans since the funding for the project was confirmed.

The application is pending assessment by Inverclyde Council’s planning department.