Inverclyde’s long-dormant ship repair complex at Inchgreen is set for a major revival after the UK Government confirmed £20 million in fresh funding, a move local leaders say could finally anchor new defence and maritime jobs on the Clyde.
The investment, announced in the Autumn Budget, will support the redevelopment of Inchgreen Marine Park and bring the vast dry dock formally into the joint venture between Inverclyde Council and Clydeport Operations Ltd. The site has already seen significant groundwork funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, but today’s announcement marks the first time Westminster has explicitly tied the dry dock’s future to defence-sector use.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, called the funding a clear endorsement of the area’s ambitions. “This is a vote of confidence in the huge potential of Inverclyde,” he said, arguing that the dockyard’s regeneration has reached a stage where more substantial investment can now convert interest into jobs.
The £20m will be drawn from the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund and aimed at expanding the site’s capability to service large vessels. Plans include new gates, pumping systems, and a modernised workforce training centre. The work is expected to complete in 2027.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves framed the commitment as part of a wider attempt to reverse years of under-investment in coastal industrial areas. In her budget speech she said, “This Labour government is backing Inverclyde because with proper investment we can deliver a renewed town, good local jobs and an economy that works for working people.”
Inverclyde MP Martin McCluskey has been pushing for the site’s revival since his election and argued that the upgrade could reposition Inchgreen as a hub for defence-linked maritime activity. “This investment will modernise the dry dock and prepare it for new highly skilled jobs in the defence and maritime sectors,” he said, adding that public-sector participation in the joint venture ensures communities have a stake in shaping the site’s long-term future.
A spokesperson for Inchgreen Marine Park told us that the plan reflects years of work with the Department for Business and Trade, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence. They confirmed that discussions with the MoD cover potential long-term use of the refurbished dry dock for defence requirements, pending final approval.
If delivered on schedule, the regeneration could restore Inchgreen’s role as one of the Clyde’s major industrial assets, positioning it to benefit from rising defence spending and renewed demand for heavy maritime infrastructure.
