Street revamp with a £6 million investment finished in Greenock
West Blackhall Street in Greenock, Scotland, has undergone a significant transformation as part of a £6 million active travel project, aimed at breathing new life into the traditional high street. The revitalization effort, led by Inverclyde Council and delivered through Transport Scotland's Places for Everyone program and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), has simplified access for vehicles and parking, while creating additional space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council's vice-convener of environment and regeneration, acknowledged the council's efforts, stating that the project supports the aims and objectives of the Greenock Town Centre masterplan, promoting West Blackhall Street as a safe, accessible, and attractive street. The redevelopment includes new public realm areas with extra seating and trees, and maintains vehicle access.
Simon Strain, head of programme at Places for Everyone, expressed his delight at the changes, stating they give the people of Greenock more choices for their everyday journeys. The project, funded in part by the Scottish Government through their Scotland's Network Development programme, also received support from SPT, with funding towards works including upgrades to traffic lights and pavements at the Grey Place side of West Blackhall Street.
The revitalization of West Blackhall Street is expected to offer a boost to local businesses by attracting more footfall. The project includes upgraded junctions at Patrick Street and Campbell Street, as well as improvements to 1.8km of the existing traffic-free Esplanade, making the area safer and easier to navigate for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project was carried out in two phases, starting in January 2024 and completed in February 2025. A separate £305,000 project to improve the National Cycle Network Route 75 and upgrade the Patrick Street junction is nearing completion.
Scotland's active travel initiatives are not limited to Greenock. In Glasgow, major infrastructure projects such as Connecting Woodside, the East City Way (now entering Phase 5 construction), and the Dumbreck Road Active Travel Link aim to enhance active travel routes and connections across the city. Glasgow also supports third sector initiatives like Women on Wheels and Bike for Good, which reduce barriers to cycling.
Across Aberdeenshire, six local projects funded through the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) aim to enhance community facilities and services, including projects linked to cycling infrastructure. Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) are sharing over £23 million in government funding to support active travel and sustainable transport projects.
These programs illustrate a coordinated national and local effort in Scotland to advance safe, accessible, and inclusive active travel, particularly in walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure, through a variety of scale projects, from community-level improvements to city-wide strategic developments. Inverclyde Councillor David Wilson, SPT Chair of operations, emphasized the project's potential to make Inverclyde a more pleasant place to visit and support local businesses.
The significant transformation of West Blackhall Street, led by Inverclyde Council, involves not only simplifying access for vehicles but also creating space for pedestrians and cyclists, aligning with the finance sector's Scotland's Network Development programme. The revitalization, supported by Transport Scotland's Places for Everyone program and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), further includes upgrades to traffic lights and pavements, showing a collaboration between the transportation, finance, and industry sectors for urban development.
With funding from the Scottish Government and SPT, the project aims to attract more footfall to local businesses, exemplifying how finance and industry can contribute to the success of transportation-focused urban transformations in Scotland.
