Council to Buy Dumbarton Shopping Centre

West Dunbartonshire Council is in negotiations to purchase Dumbarton's Artizan Shopping Centre.

The pedestrianised precinct is a key element of their plans to regenerate and transform the town centre.

Councillor Iain McLaren, convener of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development committee, said: “Regenerating Dumbarton town centre has always been a Council priority.

"Due to changing shopping habits, exacerbated by the pandemic, it is now more important than ever we do all we can to help our high streets thrive.

"Our desire is to make Dumbarton town centre a vibrant, attractive place which is easily accessible by walking, wheeling and cycling.”

Plans for the Artizan form part of  a wider bid which West Dunbartonshire Council is making to the Levelling Up Fund.

Council officers will look at potential development opportunities for the centre, focusing on how the shopping precinct can create a better link to the town centre and encourage future investment on the High Street.

Diane Docherty, vice convener of the committee, added: “In recent years we have completed a number of regeneration projects in and around the town centre including new housing, the waterfront path and new council offices.

“The proposed purchase of the Artizan Centre takes us a step closer to our proposed Levelling Up Fund project.

"This will allow us to consider how we can redevelop the site in order to boost footfall in the town centre and encourage future investment.

“We are committed to making these enhancements work for our residents and businesses and will work with them closely as this progresses.”

Other projects included in the Levelling Up Fund bid include the transformation of  B-Listed Glencairn House into a library, museum and community facility; the creation of a publicly accessible archive in the existing Dumbarton Library and completion of the Connecting Dumbarton project.