Published 22 June 2022

Ambitious plans for a new transport hub in Clydebank will form part of West Dunbartonshire Council’s bid in the second round of Levelling Up Funding.

The proposed Transport Hub will incorporate Clydebank Central Station, the bus station and the creation of infrastructure for active travel to encourage walking and cycling.

As well as providing enhanced bus facilities, improved footways and public realm space, its introduction would complement railway improvements, with better disabled access to both platforms.

In addition, the proposed hub would support ongoing regeneration within Clydebank, helping to create a sense of pride and place in the town, and reduce the areas carbon emissions by encouraging residents to switch to more sustainable modes of transport.

Its creation will also ensure wider housing and employment developments, including those at Queens Quay and the former Playdrome site, are well connected and integrated with the town centre.

Councillors were told of the proposed bid during a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council held this week.

An access road at the Scottish Marine Technology Project, an essential element of plans to regenerate the former Carless site, is also being included in the bid.

It is expected that the completed development would create almost 1000 jobs and add £125million to the area’s economy each year.

A third project, which would see improvements to the Kilbowie Roundabout, will be submitted if the Access Road is deemed unsuitable for the fund.

Councillor David McBride, Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development said: “We have already successfully bid for Levelling  Up funding in the first round, and I am pleased to see such a strong bid going in once again for the benefit for West Dunbartonshire.

“All of the recommended projects tie in with our own aspirations for building a better West Dunbartonshire, and will bring about lasting positive change for our communities.”

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development added: “The projects included in this bid will not only improve Clydebank for our residents, but will be the catalyst for future investment and regeneration across the whole of West Dunbartonshire for many years to come.”

In October 2021, the Council was successful in its bid for the first round of Levelling Up funding.

It was awarded £19.9million for the transformation of the B-Listed Glencairn House into a state-of-the-art library, museum and community facility; the creation of a publicly accessible archive in the existing library building; the acquisition, part demolition and preparation for redevelopment of the Artizan Centre; and the completion of the Connecting Dumbarton project to enhance active travel connections between the Town Centre, waterfront path and Dumbarton Central train station.