Live project
We are working with Inverclyde Council to transform a former Gourock school site into a new community greenspace.
Client and funding
Green Action Trust has been working with Inverclyde Council to develop a masterplan for an area of vacant and derelict land (VDL) in Gourock.
As well as helping to secure the funding, we had coordinated the delivery of an initial phase of work at the site in consultation with local community groups. Previously the St. Ninian’s Primary School, the site has stood empty since the old school building was demolished in 2017.
The area was not safe, inaccessible and uninviting to the public and residents, encouraging unsocial behaviours such as littering. The soil was contaminated with the remains from the demolition of an old building.
There was not much canopy cover, and the site was overgrown with weeds. There were also significant flooding concerns, as the north-east corner of the site tends to get boggy when there is heavy rain.
Aims & objectives
Since the site works began at the beginning of April 2025, the area has been slowly transformed into a welcoming, quality green space for recreation and social activities. Local scout groups and pupils from St. Ninian’s Primary School will be able to use the site to explore the outdoor world safely beyond their playground.
This project aims to deliver multiple outcomes across three key areas:
Addressing the previous industrial use of the land to improve site safety, accessibility and attractiveness.
A new defined wetland area will manage excess surface water onsite and create interesting habitats
Earthworks and reprofiling of the site will create new areas for play and increase accessibility
Due to the site’s varied past, the first phase of works on-site was focused on improving the condition of the ground, re-surfacing and covering the remains of the demolished school. This phase included:
Once the first phase of works is completed and the seeding is established, the site will be accessible and safe to use by the local community.
Prior to any groundworks, we have created a master plan for the potential improvement of the site in consultation with local community groups. This plan then acted as a guide for how the site could be developed, steering any future phases of work, subject to funding. You can view this master plan below.
The area of St Ninian’s Greenspace has a diverse history. It was originally a field until the late 1800s, after which it became part of a rifle range and was used for copper open-cast extraction operations until the early 1900s. In 1965, the area was transformed into a space for urban recreation. Located in the southern part of the site is a former copper mine shaft, which has since been remediated.
From 1975 to 2017, St Ninian’s R.C. Primary School occupied the site before being demolished and relocated to new buildings to the east. A local legend speaks of a sea monster that came ashore in Gourock on the Clyde during WWII and was buried beneath the playing fields of the former school.
The artwork and signage created in collaboration with the local artist, Ida Henrich and Border Signs and Graphix Ltd, will decorate the mineshaft fencing and help share this fascinating story.
