"Scotland's Chernobyl" is scheduled to be bulldozed after years of being discarded as an eerie ghost town.
The abandoned housing estate in Port Glasgow has been deemed structurally unsafe following years of decline.
This week, contractors have moved on site to prepare for the demolition of buildings that have deteriorated significantly over time.
Once a vibrant community, the estate has become a hotspot for urban explorers despite warnings from council officials about the dangers of the area.
The entire demolition project is expected to take around six months
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The estate was built a century ago to house shipyard workers and once contained over 430 flats spread across 45 tenement blocks.
Then, during the 1990s, the area started to fade while the construction industry in nearby ports declined simultaneously.
Property prices plummeted, with reports in 2020 of a flat being put on the market for just £7,000.
A decade ago, a regeneration plan proposed complete demolition but some remaining owners mounted a successful legal challenge.
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The council has since purchased about two-thirds of the properties to control the area's future.
The demolition will begin with the former school - which was destroyed by a fire in 2023 - and a crumbling church which has been deemed structurally unsafe.
An initial 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks will then be bulldozed as part of the first phase, carried out by Greenock-based company Caskie Limited following certification that all utilities are disconnected.
The entire demolition project is expected to take around six months to complete.
Inverclyde Council Leader Stephen McCabe said: "It's important to remember that the former school and church buildings and the residential properties are being demolished in the interests of safety based on professional advice.
Once a vibrant community, the estate has become a hotspot for urban explorers despite warnings from council officials about the dangers of the area
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"The council has a duty to ensure public safety across Inverclyde and take action where necessary to protect the public from dangerous buildings."
McCabe called the demolition "a historic moment and progress towards the ultimate goal of regenerating this prominent area of Port Glasgow".
Inverclyde Council now owns over half the estate after years of proactively acquiring properties, which have been badly affected by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour, contributing to their deterioration.
Officials have warned people to stay away from the area while the demolition work remains ongoing.
In November 2023, the council approved new plans for the site, which include building up to 165 new, affordable homes for social rent once the demolition is completed.
