Demolition of 'Scotland's Chernobyl' housing estate begins

The long-awaited demolition of a derelict housing estate dubbed “Scotland’s Chernobyl” began on Wednesday.

Clune Park, in Port Glasgow, was initially built to house shipyard workers, however, the properties were sold to private owners over time.

Inverclyde Council announced its plans to demolish the properties last year following “extensive investigations”.

Greenock-based Caskie Limited won the contract and have moved to the site and started the first phase of the demolition which is projected to take around six months.

Inverclyde Council announced its plans to demolish the properties last year following “extensive investigations”. STV News

Initially, 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks, the church and the fire damaged school will be razed to the ground.

Members of the public have been urged to stay away from the largely abandoned area which has been targeted by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour in recent times.

A new Clune Park masterplan was approved by the council in November 2023 with the ultimate aim of demolishing the estate.

Council leader Stephen McCabe told STV News: “We’re looking to build new houses on this site and build a new community, probably building around 150 houses for social housing.

“We want to build a new community and give it a bright future. It has a very good location, Clune Park, it is very close to the town centre and transport links.

“I’m confident it will be a popular place to live once we build the new houses.”

He hopes that lessons can be learned to ensure estate is ever left to rot again.

Councillor McCabe said: “I think the real lesson for Clune Park is that councillors don’t have sufficient power to try and address the issues around private housing.

“That has meant we’ve had a long, torturous and costly process to get to the point we are today.

“I think the Scottish Government need to look at Clune Park as a lesson and see if councillors under the law can take action earlier than we were able to take.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.