West Dunbartonshire Council is already awake to the part that will be played by its existing multi-million pound regeneration activities alongside its major City Deal project – the envisaged acquisition of the Exxon oil distribution site near Bowling as a waterfront development opportunity.
"It’s splendidly located between Dumbarton and Clydebank. Our estimates suggest it would create something like 600 additional jobs," explains Richard Cairns, the Council’s Executive Director for Housing, Environmental and Economic Development.
He adds: "For Clydebank and Dumbarton, part of their prosperity is as part of an economically successful city region.
"Significant numbers of people commute to work from West Dunbartonshire. A similar number commute to West Dunbartonshire. We want to make a positive contribution to regional growth – and we expect to be a positive beneficiary from regional growth. Dumbarton is improving significantly."
The council is investing £15 million in moving the current out-of-town centre office back in to the town centre. That will move about 500 staff back into the heart of Dumbarton and bring the A-listed former Dumbarton Academy back into productive use.
The strategy for Clydebank plays upon the town’s former glories. The major initiative is council’s successful investment in Queens Quay – the former John Brown’s shipyard, famous for its Queen series of liners.
Cairns indicates: "The council will be investing about £16 million in infrastructure. We will see 1,100 new homes – some private, some social housing – a new walkway, a new health centre being built by NHS Scotland, and a new council care home in addition to the £22.5m leisure centre."
A net migration of up to 2,000 residents to Clydebank is expected.
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