Port Glasgow Community Hub (formerly known as King George VI Building)
Gallery of Images
Before_Ground Floor Training Kitchen
After_Ground Floor Training Kitchen
Before Garden Area
New Garden Area
First floor activity room ( New)
Before and after, Street view of the building
Project Description
The King George VI Building Community Hub project has transformed a prominent Category B listed building on King Street, Port Glasgow into a modern, inclusive and environmentally leading community facility. Dating from the 1700s, the building has played a central civic role over centuries, including use as a Masonic hall, former town hall and school headteacher’s residence. Despite its historic and symbolic importance, prior to redevelopment the building was under‑used and faced an uncertain future.
The project responded directly to community‑identified need for accessible, flexible and welcoming space to support local activity and services a need made urgent following the loss of Clune Park Community Centre, which displaced numerous community groups across temporary and fragmented venues. This resulted in reduced stability, visibility and capacity for local activity. Community feedback consistently highlighted the need for a single, permanent and inclusive base.
The redevelopment of the King George VI Building offered both a practical solution and a powerful statement of confidence: restoring a valued heritage asset while meeting urgent, everyday community needs. The £3.2 million regeneration project was delivered through partnership between Inverclyde Council and the Scottish Government, supported by £1.8 million from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and £1.4 million from Inverclyde Council. Additional investment enabled a pilot carbon‑reduction initiative, embedding sustainability from the outset.
Officially opened on 6 May 2025, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Port Glasgow becoming a burgh, the Community Hub has quickly re‑established the building as a focal point of community life. It provides four purpose‑designed community spaces, including flexible meeting and event rooms, a digital skills room promoting learning and inclusion, and a dedicated community food space supporting cooking classes, health activity and warm‑space provision. Outdoor and growing areas further enhance wellbeing, climate and sustainability outcomes.
Early impact has been significant. Between May and November 2025, the Hub recorded 2,606 visits and supported activity from over 40 community groups. Users range from early years provision and wellbeing groups to governance meetings, cultural programmes and faith‑based activity. By bringing displaced organisations back together while enabling new activity to emerge, the King George VI Building has been restored not only as a physical asset, but as a living, evolving centre for community connection, resilience and regeneration. The Below video was created by the Masonic group that use the between the months on September and April. The video was produced to mark the first anniversary of the opening of the Community Hub.
Supporting Statement
a) Community Involvement, Benefit and Impact
The Port Glasgow Community Hub is rooted in locally identified need and community‑led governance. Its development directly responded to the displacement of organisations following the loss of Clune Park Community Centre, restoring stability and continuity for services relied upon by local residents. A strong Port Glasgow Community Hub Committee plays a central role in shaping and supporting activity. Made up of groups that actively use the building, the committee represents a direct continuation of the committee that previously supported Clune Park Community Centre. This continuity retained local leadership, experience and trusted relationships, enabling a smooth transition and preserving established ways of working.
Since opening, the Hub has supported more than 40 community groups, engaging a wide cross‑section of the community from toddlers and families to learners, volunteers and governance bodies. With over 2,600 recorded visits in its first six months, the Hub has already demonstrated clear and measurable impact.The building strengthens local networks by hosting community councils, partnership forums, food strategy groups and resilience planning meetings alongside social, cultural and wellbeing activity. This combination of everyday use and strategic coordination positions the Hub not only as a safe, welcoming community space, but as a community‑led driver of wider regeneration and local resilience.
b) Building Design and Quality
Constructed between 1758 and 1759, the King George VI Building is the oldest surviving building in Port Glasgow town centre and a significant example of early civic architecture. Comprising two blocks built in random rubble stone with slate roofs on timber trusses, the building had deteriorated significantly by the late twentieth century, placing it at serious risk.Refurbishment provided an opportunity to safeguard this heritage asset while delivering a major deep‑retrofit project meeting modern standards and Net Zero performance objectives. Sustainability and long‑term resilience were embedded throughout the design.
Works included ground‑floor excavation with waterproof tanking and insulation; installation of high‑performance insulated wall cassettes behind the retained stonework; replacement of the roof with an insulated slate system; creation of a fully airtight envelope; installation of triple glazed windows and efficient doors; and a low carbon energy strategy using air‑source heat pumps, underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and photovoltaic panels.
The result is a historic building achieving an A+ energy efficiency rating, exceeding net‑zero standards while retaining its architectural character.
c) Preservation and Enhancement of the Local Built Environment
The project has safeguarded a landmark Category B listed building central to Port Glasgow’s civic identity. Restoring it to active use has prevented further deterioration, enhanced the streetscape and demonstrated the value of heritage‑led regeneration. Reopened during Port Glasgow’s 250th anniversary year, the building stands as a symbol of community pride and confidence.
d) Achievements of the Project
Key achievements include regeneration of a historic civic building into a modern community hub; stabilisation of groups displaced by the loss of Clune Park Community Centre; 2,600+ visits and engagement from 40+ organisations within six months; creation of inclusive spaces supporting learning, wellbeing, governance and culture; and achievement of an A+ energy efficiency rating.