Queens Quay masterplan to go before councillors
Over 1,000 new homes could be built at Queens Quay in Clydebank if West Dunbartonshire Council approves a masterplan for the site this week.
Detailed proposals have been put forward to planners outlining the vision for transforming the former John Brown’s shipyard, which has lain derelict for years.
If given the go ahead by the council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday it will pave the way for the first phase of the development work to get underway.
The plans for the 23 hectare site – which will take more than 10 years to fully complete – include significant residential development; retail, commercial and leisure areas; and a health and care quarter.
In addition, extensive civic and open space would be provided around the former fitting-out basin and along the riverside.
The first phase will see essential infrastructure works carried out, including repairs to quay walls and the creation of a new road layout.
Two new streets – provisionally called Titan Boulevard and Titan View – would be created to provide better access to the site, while a new cycle route is also proposed.
Further road improvement works would also be completed, with a new signal-controlled junction being installed on the former Boilermakers’ Social Club site on Dumbarton Road.
Once the first phase of the project was complete, it is expected that the development of the care home and health centre quarter behind the existing Clydebank Town Hall complex and the flats at Centenary Court would be the next piece of the jigsaw.
Historically the fitting-out basin divided the shipyard into areas known as the ‘East Yard’ and ‘West Yard’.
Most of the homes would be built in the former West Yard, with a mixture of houses and flats proposed for along the edge of the River Clyde. It is expected that up to 1,056 homes (a mixture of private and social) could be created, depending on the eventual mix between houses and flats.
The retail, commercial and leisure areas – which could include a local retail unit, pub/diner and hotel – would be concentrated around the basin as well as along Dumbarton Road and Cart Street in the East Yard.
A public walkway around the basin would also be created, as well as a number of open space green areas for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Richard Cairns, executive director of infrastructure and regeneration, said: “The council has long-identified the Queens Quay site as a key regeneration area for West Dunbartonshire. This proposal offers an opportunity to build a significant number of social and private homes, as well as providing a range of other services and jobs on the site. The plans also include details of open spaces which would offer unrivalled views over the Clyde. It has been decades since this once thriving shipyard was in use and it’s now up to councillors to decide the best way forward.”
The recommendation to committee is to grant planning permission in principle subject to a number of conditions being agreed, including devising a legal agreement which would ensure a developer contribution towards future bus services within the site.
The former John Brown Shipyard was bought by Clydeside Regeneration in 2004. However, due to difficult market conditions, the owners were unable to attract the investment to fund the necessary infrastructure works.
In July last year the council agreed to invest £15m to fund this work in order to kick-start the development of the site. In return the council will recoup its investment from a share of the financial benefits of any future land sales at the site, and in the economic benefits this would bring to the area.