A fresh warning has been issued predicting the death of the local high street as West Dunbartonshire Council brought forward proposals to respond to the decline in retail.
The local authority has revealed plans to deal with the changing shopping needs in Clydebank.
Despite the local high street being described as buoyant in a recent council report, the latest predictions are that retail will decline by another 50% in Scotland over the next five years, as more people rely on online shopping.
West Dunbartonshire Council has now created a development framework, which will run over 15 years, and highlights some of the plans to shrink the amount of shopping space in Clydebank between the canal and railway station to the former Playdrome site while developing more houses and open spaces.
During a meeting it was also revealed that there was potential to develop a new school, if the opportunity and funding arose, serving new homes in the town centre and Queens Quay.
A report presented to the infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee this morning highlighted the proposals for residential homes on the Playdrome site, a new transport hub including Clydebank Central train station, the bus station and active travel routes as well as the redevelopment of Sylvania Way to create a community of residential, retail and businesses opportunities.
A new park, improved indoor and outdoor space for community activities and an activities centre are also on the cards.
During the meeting, Labour councillor Martin Rooney said: “The Clydebank development framework is really good. It has responded to the change in retail and shopping needs.
“The report points out that a 50% reduction in retail is expected over the next five years. There is a whole load of stuff changing which is impacting on the viability of shopping centres and places like Clyde Regional Shopping Centre.
“It is suggested we turn quite a lot of the retail area into housing which means the new houses will bring new customers. There are going to be a lot of improvements to the area to breathe new life into the centre of Clydebank.”
SNP councillor Karen Conaghan also pointed out that people still needed access to shops, healthcare and leisure facilities.
She said: “We do need to look towards creating areas where people have their needs served in terms of access to shops, healthcare needs and leisure.
“We are all very aware of the health benefits that socialisation brings to people by creating links for them.
“We need to listen to our younger people who we look to create these places for. What do they want? What do they need? That is an important part of this in the challenge. We don’t want vast housing estates with no shopping provision or greenspace.
“I am really interested to see how this will go forward particularly in the planning stages.”
A planning application for the development will be brought before the planning committee in due course.
