Town Centres Initiative - Mixed-Use Development - Dumbarton Town Centre Action Plan

Date: 02 May 2002

The Dumbarton Town Centre Action Plan, launched a year ago has helped to secure more than £6 million in new investment for the town - and local politicians and agencies agree that the future is now looking a lot better.

The Dumbarton Town Centre Partnership comprising West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire Town Centres Initiative Limited commissioned a report into the town which is now the agreed policy of all three bodies - Re-Discovering Dumbarton, The Town Centre Action Plan.

Additional studies were undertaken to complete the full picture of the town centre and a plan was agreed for a series of projects aimed at the revitalisation of Dumbarton town centre by improving access, safety and security, the environment, restoring business confidence and civic pride.

So far the effort has secured

 £400,000 for projects to improve the look of the town centre
 Helped secure sustainable additional resources from the Scottish Executive of:
- £1.8 million from the Public Transport Fund,
- a £3.24 million refurbishment and expansion of Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
- £1 million capital consent to repair Dumbarton Bridge and bring it back into full use.

Commenting on the Town Centre Initiative's first year of work, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said:

"I believe that Dumbarton Town Centre has turned a corner. After years of neglect and decay we are now moving forward with an agenda of investment and regeneration. The Council, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and Town Centres Initiative are working together to improve the town centre and I would like to pay tribute to their hard work. There is still a great deal of work to be done but we are beginning to make progress."

April 2001 marked the start of a nine-year programme of projects arising from the Action Plan with a small multi agency project team being put together to deliver the projects. The Project Team is headed by Irving Hodgson of Economic, Planning and Environmental Services with three project managers drawn from West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and Town Centres Initiative responsible for implementing the Action Plan.

A budget of some £400K was set aside for the town centre projects.

In September 2001, a Public Realm Design Guide was completed laying down clear guidance on the design of spaces between buildings.

A range of suitable materials was listed for street elements such as paving, kerbs, walls and railings. Appropriate tree species were identified and a suite of street furniture has been earmarked for the town centre.

In a crucial new move, The Babtie Group, one of the UK’s leading technical and management consultants were appointed to undertake a study of flooding in Dumbarton and surrounding areas.

The study will take place over the next few months and will involve a survey of the entire length of the River Leven. A computer model of the river will then be constructed and used to assess flood risk in areas adjacent to the river. The feasibility of different flood prevention options will then be assessed and recommendations made on the most appropriate option. Climate change issues will be taken into account.

Ronnie Falconer, Divisional Director with Babtie Group, said: "We have an extensive skill-base in the area of flood management and we are very pleased to have been appointed by the Town Centres Initiative Partnership to undertake this study, which is of key importance to the development of Dumbarton."

Councillor Iain Robertson, recently appointed as a Director to the Town Centres Initiative Board, commented: "The threat of flooding is seriously affecting our ability to draw further investment to the core town centre, a flood prevention scheme could improve our ability to attract more investment to the town.

Commenting on the Town Centre plan he added: "The first year has seen a number of projects and studies started and we are now seeing the physical progress on Dumbarton High Street. The future of Dumbarton Town Centre is looking better and this can only be good for employment and further investment."

In October the Town Centres Initiative Partners successfully secured a £1.8 million award from the Public Transport Fund to improve a number of transport and access issues in and around the town centre.

Town Centres Initiative Manager Ian Davison Porter said: " We are looking at traffic management for the High Street that will afford greater priority to pedestrians and a car parking management plan that will avoid the need for charging in the off-street car parks.

"Provision for disabled, coach, motorcycle and bicycle parking will be addressed and a distinctive off-street car park design standard will be developed. These projects will be delivered over the next three years."

A vital part of the plan has been to improve the run down appearance of the town centre. In the High Street substantial grants were offered to shop owners on the pilot Shopfront Facelift Project. Work has gone well and the Town Centres Initiative Partnership hope that grants for further shop front improvements will be available in the next financial year.

Connected to this project will be the issue of a Shopfront Design Guide for the whole of West Dunbartonshire. The Guide is likely to be adopted as Council policy and provides illustrated statements on design features on the frontages of commercial properties. The Guide will not only apply to shops but also business disciplines such as professional services, offices, banks, building societies and restaurants.

A pilot public realm project was let to Landscapes and Contracts Ltd and started on 18th February. The scheme involves renewing the pavements between St. Augustine’s Church and Blair & Bryden Solicitors.

Concrete will be replaced with Caithness stone, a durable traditionally Scottish material, that should last one hundred and fifty years. Two closes along this stretch will be improved and equipped with secure gate entry systems and the backcourt areas will be tidied up. The scheme aims to inject more quality into the town centre and will be a test bed for further streetscape improvement projects.

Irving Hodgson says "we have been really pleased with the way these two projects have gone and with the patience and help given to us by the owners and managers of the businesses involved."

Major refurbishment works to St. Augustine’s Church will complement the public realm works.

‘St Augustine's Episcopal Church stands right on the High Street. The congregation is involved in a major project to make the beautiful building more accessible to everyone. Around £800,000 has been earmarked by Historic Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and West Dunbartonshire Council and we are waiting to hear whether we are successful and can start work in late summer’ says Francis Walker on behalf of The Friends of St Augustines. Local fundraising is also essential and is being done by The Friends of St Augustines.

Elsewhere, Dumbarton Town Centre Partnership have worked with a Council officer group to encourage a project to repair the Academy Buildings which have been out of use for a number of years.

As well as the Dumbarton Town Centre Partnership investment, additional investment has been made by the private sector. Asda and British Land at the St James Retail Park, whilst an application by Safeway to increase the size of their store is currently in progress.

Talks are ongoing with Vico Properties over the College Way redevelopment, which when concluded will be a major boost to the development of the town centre.

The Initiative Partnership has undertaken moves to make Dumbarton town centre businesses more competitive. Several have had the benefit of free audits by specialist consultants, Connor MacIntosh to assess the health of their business.

Aspects such as customer care, visual merchandising, stock control, range assembly, loss prevention and good business management were all assessed. Good practice booklets have been produced and specific training is being organised.

Harry Johnston Chair of the Town Centres Initiative concludes: " We’ve made a very good start. There is a lot of hard work going in to get the job done. The best thing about it is the support we are getting from the town, the Councillors, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and particularly the other officers in the Council – there is a good team working on the Action Plan and it is good news for the town."

The Allied Distillers site to the edge of the town is an important ‘opportunity site and Communications Manager, Sylvia Waterson of Allied Distillers says ‘Allied Distillers is still in negotiation with various parties who have shown an interest in the East Site which has been for sale for about one year. This site has planning permission for ‘change of use’ to a retail development . The Scottish retail market is not bouyant at the moment and although there is still interest, it has been ADL’s policy to hold on to the property rather than sell it to a developer, who may just let the site lie until the market recovers. We will continue to talk to interested parties regarding this site.

One thing is worth noting . Allied Distillers will not develop any site. Its core business is to produce and distribute Spirits . If Allied Distillers sell any site it is up to the developers to develop it. Whilst our prime responsibility is to our employees and shareholders, we will of course also consider a future developer's intentions and how it would affect the town of Dumbarton, as we are extremely interested in supporting the local community in any way we can.

Allan McQuade said "Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire are very pleased with the progress that has been made over the past year in delivering the Dumbarton Town Centre Action Plan. A significant amount of work has been carried out since the Action Plan was launched, and we look foward to working in partnership with all town centre stakeholders to deliver further improvements to Dumbarton Town Centre."

Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news