The site of a former school in Haldane is set to be transformed into a new affordable housing development.
West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) has announced plans to overhaul the six-acre Miller Road land with 58 new homes for social rent.
A combination of four, three, two and one bedroom properties would be built, if the plans are agreed.
The local authority submitted a planning application last week.
Homes, access, parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure are all planned as part of the development.
The former Haldane Primary School was demolished earlier this year to make way for new homes. Pupils have been settled into their new home for almost a year within the Balloch campus, built on the site of the former St Kessog’s Primary.
Plans for the new housing development, which fronts onto Miller Road, Inler Park and Carrochan Burn, reveal proposals for a woodland path through the site with “natural play elements” for children.
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A design statement explains the focus on specific housing need.
It reads: “The brief was to provide around 60 social housing units designed to a high quality, in a safe and attractive neighborhood.
“WDC have encouraged the provision of more accessible housing and ones which are suitable for wheelchair users.
“Similarly, WDC recognise that there is a size imbalance between the available housing and the demand, with particular shortages of one-bedroom properties and larger family houses.”
The development is part of the local authority’s new Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which aims to build 1000 new social rented homes in West Dunbartonshire by 2021.
According to council figures last year, there are around 3810 people on the social housing waiting list – up from 3664 in 2016.
The council held a public consultation event at the Mill Cabin in October last year, to ask residents for their views on the Haldane site.
Around 30 people turned up with their comments helping to shape the plans.
The design statement told how residents felt the development should link in with Inler Park, which is to be redeveloped.
It added: “The linking of the site and wider area of Haldane to Inler Park was a focal point, as people are keen to access the new Inler Park redevelopment without having to take a long route as is currently the case.
“This is an important point to consider as the site will have many larger family homes and easy access to open space is desired.
“A pedestrian access route to/along Carrochan Burn for the public was also important as previously this has been inaccesible.”
Inler Park is set to be overhauled with an all-weather sports pitch, a skatepark and play facilities identified as key priorities for the refurbishment of the site. The council put the project out to tender at the end of last year and have £320,000 to spend on improvement works.
