The £19 million project will be developed at a vacant site at the entrance to James Watt Dock. A total of 144 new homes will be built in the area of a two year period.

The housing would be a mix of mainstream housing, assisted living accommodation and wheelchair accessible properties, with other plans in place to build a ‘village green’ and a children’s play park.

Two applications have now been submitted to Inverclyde Council seeking planning permission for the first 72 flats of the development.

Gary Wilson, executive director of property services at River Clyde Homes, said: “We have been working on these plans for some time and are pleased that an application for this large development on a significant site have been submitted. This is a major investment in much needed modern homes in Inverclyde and contributes to our ambition to be a major developer of housing in Scotland.

“Work on the first phase of 28 homes in Slaemuir has begun and at the end of the month I expect there to be a site start on 20 new homes at the Mallard Crescent area.”