Dumbarton set to benefit from £30m regeneration scheme

A £30m regeneration project has been unveiled for the Bellsmyre district of Dumbarton with the housing estate to set to benefit from new affordable homes.

The project, unveiled by the Caledonia Housing Association, will see the construction of 222 new affordable two-storey homes.

These will replace 225 older three-storey flats and will be funded through a combination of public and private funding raised by Caledonia.

Julie Cosgrove, CEO of Caledonia Housing Association, said: ‘These proposals have the potential to dramatically improve the lives of Bellsmyre residents and families for many years to come and I am delighted that we have found a way to make this a potential reality.

“We have listened to what our tenants and service users have told us and we have responded. Now we want to hear from the people of Bellsmyre about what they think of our plans.’

The proposals, made by Caledonia’s subsidiary the Bellsmyre Housing Association, will see the demolition of the older three-storey tenements currently standing in Bellsmyre.

These will be replaced by the ‘family-friendly’ affordable homes, which will each have their own front and back door as well as their own garden.

A consultation with residents on the regeneration of the Bellsmyre estate has now begun, with the proposals set to be displayed at Caledonia’s offices until 22 March.

A survey has also been made available online for residents to offer their feedback on the proposals.

Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, said the proposals are ‘really positive’ for Bellsmyre, adding that they would bring further attention to the area.

‘These are really positive proposals for Bellsmyre,’ Baillie said. ‘Building new houses, taking down the flats and regenerating the area will transform our local community and make a big difference to the lives of many local residents.

‘I encourage members of our community to engage with the consultation process as this is a great opportunity to build on previous investment in the area and to put Bellsmyre firmly on the map.’

Image credit: Lairich Rig