The £1.25 million building will provide an operational office for the marina together with new first class facilities for the marina customers that will replace the existing portacabins.

A bespoke bistro café and three retail and office units have also been incorporated in the design, all enjoying commanding views over James Watt Dock and conveniently located for ease of access by land and water.

The plans were submitted by Richard Robb Architects on behalf of James Watt Marina Limited.

Leading the design process, Geoff Phillips, executive chairman of Marina Projects Ltd, which owns James Watt Marina Limited, said: “We have been working closely with Richard Robb Architects and the project team over the last few months to bring forward a building design which meets the future needs of the marina whilst at the same time acknowledging the local environment. Although designed with a modern concept the carefully selected materials respond to the rich James Watt Dock Heritage and we anticipate that the proposals will be viewed favourably by the planning authority.”

The investment in the new building forms part of the ongoing and long term commitment by Marina Projects to the expansion and development of the James Watt Dock Marina business and ambition of raising the profile of Greenock and Inverclyde within the marine leisure sector.

That commitment also extends to the generation of local employment and where possible the engagement of regionally based professionals and contractor organisations as the development works are taken forwards.

Geoff Phillips added: “From the outset it was our stated intention to bring together a regionally based project team for the new marina administration building and I am pleased to say that in addition to Richard Robb Architects the project team includes Fairhurst (Glasgow), Allied Surveyors Scotland (Greenock) and Butler Consulting.”

The building is due to be completed by 2020.

Image provided courtesy of Richard Robb Architects