Case study

Redeveloping Dumbarton town centre with £19.9 million funding

Dumbarton is a town with a rich history, famous for its castle, glassmaking, shipbuilding, and whisky. With the support of £19.9 million from the Levelling Up Fund, the town centre will be regenerated.

From:
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Published
17 January 2023
Artist’s impression of the regenerated Town Centre road and pavements

The award will help Dumbarton:

  • become more attractive for residents and visitors
  • improve its town centre

Redevelopment of Glencairn House

Some funding will go towards the redevelopment of Glencairn House, the oldest building in Dumbarton. The investment will heIp develop a new:

  • state-of-the-art library including children’s library and play space
  • community facility for residents
  • museum

The Glencairn House restoration is an investment in an important cultural and heritage asset. It will renew pride in Dumbarton by incorporating the story of the town in the design process.

Mock-up of the front of the new library, museum and community hub at Glencairn House

Improving travel connections within Dumbarton

A share of the funding will be used for an active travel project, Connecting Dumbarton.

This will help to:

  • improve connections between the town centre and Dumbarton Central Station
  • make the journey safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and cyclists

Councillor David McBride, of West Dunbartonshire Council, said:

We were delighted to be awarded Levelling Up funding. The projects it is supporting will bring about long-term enhancements to our town centre, which will benefit our residents, communities, and visitors for many years to come.

Refurbishing the Artizan Centre

The centre, which dates from the 1970s, has struggled in recent years. The funding will be used to partly demolish the old centre and develop a new urban quarter. These major improvements to the town centre will:

  • improve people’s experience living in and visiting Dumbarton
  • create a clear connection from the main train station to the town centre to Glencairn House
  • enhance the look of the town
  • boost the local economy

Councillor McBride continues:

We are committed to helping our town centres to thrive, and as part of our redevelopment of the Artizan Centre, we can boost footfall and encourage future investment in our area.

Find out more about levelling up.

Published 17 January 2023

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