Why We Need to Demolish the Old Methodist Church – And What Comes Next

Last week, we submitted a new planning application to demolish the old Methodist church. We know this has raised concerns in our community, and we want to be completely transparent with you about why this matters so much to us, and to the patients and families we serve.

Why This Decision Matters

When Ardgowan Hospice purchased the old Methodist Church in 2016, we did so with a clear purpose: to create the space needed for a new hospice that could better serve our community. We own both the church and the adjacent Access building, and combining these plots gives us the footprint we need to eventually build something truly special for Greenock.

We originally received planning permission to demolish the church, but we didn’t meet the deadline. When we reapplied in 2025 (previously shared with the public, with in-person public consultations carried out), Historic Environment Scotland (HES) objected, and Inverclyde Council had to refuse permission based on that single objection. In August 2025, we invited HES to visit the site and see firsthand what we’re facing. We wanted them to understand what this building represents – not just in historical terms, but in human terms. After reviewing our case, they withdrew their objection, which brings us to the updated plan we have today.

The Reality We’re Facing

Here’s what we shared with HES, and what we want you to know, too, so that you can better understand the difficult situation we are in.

Every pound we spend maintaining this empty, unusable building is a pound we can’t spend on patient care. Right now, the annual cost of keeping it standing equals the salary of one nurse. That’s difficult to deal with when we’re already struggling with limited government funding and trying to care for over 1,400 patients and families each year.

We promise we explored every option. Could we restore it? Convert it into homes? Use it for healthcare? Our structural engineer’s report was clear: restoration isn’t economically viable, and modern healthcare regulations make it virtually impossible to convert old buildings like this into facilities that meet today’s standards for patient care. The unlisted building, even in its prime, would not have been able to be converted to a modern healthcare facility.

Our mission is caring for people in their most vulnerable moments, and this building, as much as we respect its history, is preventing us from doing that mission justice.

A Garden for Our Community

HES helped us see an opportunity. Instead of leaving an empty plot, we’re going to create something beautiful: a community garden. This garden will replace the current dilapidated building with a green space that’s open to neighbours, provides fresh produce for our hospice kitchen and, most importantly, offers patients, families, and visitors a peaceful place to find comfort, process emotions, and connect with nature during incredibly difficult times.

We won’t rush this process. Once we secure funding or sponsorship, we’ll involve our staff, volunteers, and neighbours in designing a garden that truly serves everyone. This will take time, and we want your input when the time comes to work on this community collaboration!

Addressing Your Questions

If you have no money, how can you afford demolition?
We understand the confusion. The demolition was budgeted in last year’s accounts, so it won’t impact our day-to-day operations this year or next. What we can’t afford is the ongoing drain of maintaining an empty building when those resources could support patient care or help reduce our deficit. As we mentioned earlier, it currently costs us the salary of a nurse!
If you missed our previous news about our deficit, like every charitable hospice in Scotland, we’re struggling because the Scottish Government hasn’t honoured its commitment to fund hospices fairly. We’re doing everything we can on our end (restructuring, leaving positions unfilled), all without cutting a single frontline service. Our community has been incredible. We just need our government to show up, too!

Let’s talk!

We know you might still have questions, and that’s completely understandable. In March, we’re hosting an open public meeting for anyone who wants to learn more about our work and ask us anything regarding our decision. Please sign up for our newsletter so you’ll be among the first to know the details. You can also contact us by emailing info@ardgowanhospice.org.

As always, Thank You.

Thank you for caring enough to ask these questions. Thank you for supporting our charity. Ardgowan Hospice exists because of you, and we promise that when you or someone you love needs us, we’ll be here. That’s what all of this is for. Being there for our community, just as you’ve been there for us.

With gratitude,
All at Ardgowan Hospice