The demolition of a rundown estate in Inverclyde that has been described as “Scotland’s Chernobyl” has moved a step closer this week.

Inverclyde Council is now on the search for a demolition contractor to pull down nearly 140 flats, as well as the former school and church within the Clune Park Estate in Port Glasgow.

It comes after 138 dangerous building notices were served on properties across 15 tenement blocks with no appeals having been received meaning the council can now progress with demolishing unsafe properties.

The area has been plagued by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour in recent years, leading it being branded “Scotland’s Chernobyl”.

It was also the cheapest place in Scotland to live due to its reputation, with one flat selling for £7,000 at auction and another one bed flat going for £250 a month. Some of the buildings including the church were at risk of “catastrophic collapse” and the local authority described the estate as a “festering wound”.

However, now councillors have hailed the latest development as a big moment for the area that will allow it to move on.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of Environment and Regeneration, said: “This is a significant milestone for Clune Park and one that I’m sure will be welcomed by the majority of people in Inverclyde and particularly Port Glasgow residents.

READ MORE: Residents cling on in housing estate described as 'like Chernobyl'

“The council has a legal duty to ensure buildings across Inverclyde are safe and properly maintained and a responsibility to act accordingly if and when properties do not meet the necessary standards.

“Following extensive checks by our own building standards team and external surveyors, dangerous buildings notices were served on an initial 138 properties and with no appeals having been received, a demolition contractor will now be appointed to demolish these residential properties, if these works are not carried out by the owners, as well as the former school and church, which are in the council's ownership.

“While progress to regenerate Clune Park has been incredibly difficult, a huge amount of work has been taking place in the background and I would like to thank all involved for their extensive and diligent work.”

Below is a fire that ripped through the estate's old primary school last year.

Inverclyde Council has been gradually acquiring some of the properties over the last few years, and now it owns half of the estate.

Further investigations are now taking place to identify other potentially dangerous buildings.

An update report that went to council’s Environment and Regeneration committee stated: “Clune Park Regeneration: Dangerous building notices were served on 138 properties across 15 tenement block of flats in the Clune Park estate on 16 July 2024.

“The initial tranche of dangerous building notices had an appeal deadline of Tuesday 6 August 2024 to appeal the Council’s enforcement action to the Sherrif Court.

“In addition to the dangerous building notices served on the flats, notices remain extant for the former Clune Park Church and Primary School.

“Both buildings have also recently received approval from the planning department allowing for demolition of the buildings with listed building consent to demolish now granted.

“Tenders are currently being sought for the demolition of the flats, school and church as outlined above.

Pictures of Clune Park Estate taken in 2019.

“The Clune Park estate remains under investigation with further surveys ongoing of other potentially dangerous buildings.

“The estate remains under supervision with CCTV, extra community warden patrols and new security fencing erected to deter entry by members of the public.”

The council is now reaffirming a message to the public to stay away from the area and pay attention to safety warnings. The estate that was built in the 1920s and once housed hundreds of shipyard workers.