For more than two decades, Scotland’s towns have braced themselves for the annual return of an unusual—and often unwelcome—distinction: the Carbuncle Awards, and specifically the notorious “Plook on the Plinth” trophy, given to the country’s “most dismal town.” But this year, the tradition came to an abrupt and dramatic end, sparked by a spirited backlash from the people of Port Glasgow, the latest recipient of the dubious honor.
In early September 2025, architecture magazine Urban Realm revived the Carbuncle Awards after a years-long hiatus, bestowing the “Plook on the Plinth” on Port Glasgow, a shipbuilding town on the River Clyde with a population of over 14,000. The award, previously given to places like Aberdeen, Cumbernauld, Denny, and New Cumnock, was meant to highlight urban neglect and poor planning. But this time, the intended “shock and awe” effect met with unexpected resistance.
According to STV News, local residents responded with defiance, symbolically placing the trophy atop a rubbish bin—a clear message that they rejected the label of “most dismal.” Their protest was more than theatrical. It was a rallying cry that quickly gained traction, both within the community and beyond. As TV presenter Jean Johansson, who grew up in Port Glasgow, told STV News, “Being from Port Glasgow is an intrinsic and fundamental part of who I am as a person, part of everything I’ve achieved. There’s a grit and a sense of community that I grew up with, which has served me so well in my career.” She added, “The people in Inverclyde are the nicest you’ll meet. From an architectural point of view, that town has a lot to offer with places like Newark Castle, the Ropeworks and the sculptures. The thing that makes it not dismal at all is the community spirit.”
The backlash reached a peak when Kevin Green, a social entrepreneur and head of the PG25 regeneration project, refused to accept the trophy on the town’s behalf. As reported by BBC, Green denounced the award as “poverty tourism” and criticized Urban Realm’s portrayal of Port Glasgow as a case of “squandered potential.” “It’s not the most positive thing when someone comes and says you’re the most dismal town in Scotland,” Green said. “I think where we can agree is on the word ‘potential.’ I disagree with the word ‘squandered.’ For me potential is just potential.”
This powerful rejection forced Urban Realm to reconsider its approach. John Glenday, the magazine’s editor, later admitted that the time was right for a change. “Having been chased out of Port Glasgow last week, I was not expecting to return to Port Glasgow so soon, but I am delighted to be back,” Glenday told STV News. “Fruitful conversations away from the cameras showed that while coming from very different starting points, we are both headed toward the same end, a better Port Glasgow.”
Glenday acknowledged that the Carbuncle Awards, inspired by King Charles’s 1980s critique of a National Gallery extension as a “monstrous carbuncle,” were initially designed to jolt communities and policymakers into action. “Scotland is very centralised economically and politically. Smaller towns can fall down the back of the couch,” he explained to the BBC. “The Carbuncle Awards are a way of bringing these places to attention and the problems that they face.”
Yet, as Green and others pointed out, times have changed. “This is a post-Covid economy now where we do need to pull together,” Glenday said. “What struck us here is the community aspect. It’s a working class community and people are very close-knit and passionate about the town and improving things. I think with this new award we can channel that passion into a force for good.”
True to his word, Glenday and Urban Realm officially retired the “Plook on the Plinth,” replacing it with the “Heart On Your Sleeve” award—a new honor meant to recognize untapped potential and the indomitable spirit of Scottish communities. Port Glasgow was named its inaugural recipient. The new trophy, crafted by Green himself, features an arm with a red heart jutting out above the elbow. “Just as adaptive re-use is the story of the town, so too can it be for the Plook on the Plinth and I am pleased to see the award evolve in response to local demand,” Glenday said. “Today, we can reveal what we have been keeping up our sleeves, a big heart to symbolise the passion displayed by those on the ground to remedy its squandered potential.”
Why did Port Glasgow find itself in the Carbuncle Awards’ crosshairs in the first place? The answer lies partly in the town’s Clune Park estate, a derelict area that has earned the unfortunate nickname “Scotland’s Chernobyl.” According to BBC, the estate is now the focus of a major redevelopment, with 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks slated for demolition to make way for affordable homes. But the deeper story is one of economic challenges, shifting retail patterns, and a community determined to reclaim its future.
As Green explained to the BBC, John Wood Street—the historic core where his PG25 project is based—has suffered from competition with a nearby retail park, leaving more than a third of its 19 “Common Good” retail properties vacant. These buildings, originally gifted to the town by shipbuilder Lithgows, were intended to serve the local community. But declining footfall and high vacancy rates have drained resources, with £50,000 annually spent on bills from empty shops and unused flats. Green believes that if the street were fully occupied, it could generate £250,000 a year for community reinvestment.
Efforts are underway to “join the dots,” as Green puts it, reconnecting the old town with the retail park and turning John Wood Street into a destination that draws people back to the historic heart. A survey of 700 residents backs up this vision, with broad support for regeneration efforts that focus on both community and economic revitalization.
Green’s day job in “corporate disposals” has given him unique insight into how big companies can support local projects through social value obligations tied to public contracts. While Scottish procurement law is less demanding than in England and Wales, where companies must spend 10% of major contracts on community benefits, Green believes there is untapped potential. “We have legislation today that encourages businesses to give back to the community—and they’re desperate to do it,” he said. “What we’re trying to do here is show that if you can get your act together and show what you want, you can find those resources.”
In the PG25 community hub, longtime resident and volunteer Abie Williams sees a silver lining in the now-retired award. “I think it’s been a good thing because it’s got tongues wagging,” Williams told the BBC. “This town has fantastic potential—and sometimes an award like this is a good thing because it makes people aware.”
So, while the Carbuncle Awards may have reached their end, the story of Port Glasgow is far from over. The town’s refusal to accept a negative label has sparked a broader conversation about pride, potential, and the power of community. And as the sun sets on the infamous “Plook on the Plinth,” it rises on a new era—one where towns are recognized not for their flaws, but for the heart and hope they bring to Scotland’s future.
