DETAILED approval has been granted for the creation of major industrial and commercial development in West Dunbartonshire.
Permissions for phases one and two of the £44 million Bowling project, which is part of the Glasgow city region city deal, were discussed at a West Dunbartonshire Council planning committee meeting.
Members were given details of planned work around the development platforms, site layout, roads, access arrangements, parking, waterfront walkway, footpaths, open space, and drainage for consideration.
Work will include signalisation of the existing Dunglass roundabout and a new road access into the site from the A814 which will replace the existing site entrance and upgrading of the existing railway overbridge. A new roundabout will also be created beyond the bridge which will give access to the development platforms.
The new road infrastructure will be landscaped and in order to embed active travel will create new crossing points on A82 at Dumbuck and the A814 at Dunglass, as well as the reconfiguration of the NCN7 cycle path, bus stops and a shared pedestrian and cycle path.
The site, the former ExxonMobil terminal, is currently undergoing remediation before it is transformed into a mixed-use development, with storage, distribution, industrial, business, and office space. Three development platforms will be created within the south-eastern part of the site.
The detailed planning approval, which follows planning permission granted in 2021, means work can begin to develop the site and surrounding area within the coming months.
Of the 150-acre site, 47 acres is planned for development, with green network and green infrastructure enhancements including a waterfront pedestrian and cycle path being proposed for the remainder.
Councillor David McBride, convener of infrastructure, regeneration, and economic development at West Dunbartonshire Council, said, “This is a hugely ambitious project, which will benefit our area for years to come. Not only is it expected to bring almost 1,000 jobs to the area, with even more during its construction, it will also provide a financial return 26 times greater than our investment, which will be fantastic for West Dunbartonshire and the City Region as a whole.
“What makes this an even more important project is seeing a site which has been lying empty and disused for years coming back into productive use with access to greenspace areas and a much-needed relief road for our area. I look forward to seeing work in and around the site progressing in the coming weeks.”
