Plans for a new library, museum and community space in Dumbarton’s oldest building have been formally submitted.
The redevelopment of Glencairn House will be part-funded by a £19m grant from the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund, which is also set to transform Dumbarton High Street with the demolition of the Artizan Centre and redevelopment of the main shopping hub in the town.
Plans were initially approved by councillors in 2019 – before the pandemic put the development on hold.
Last week the planning application for the ambitious development went live on West Dunbartonshire Council’s (WDC) website, saying that the council is seeking permission: “For the conversion of Glencairn House into a library and museum, construction of a three-storey extension, construction of a single storey children’s library on the brownfield site at the end of Quay Pend and other minor works.”
Leeds-based architecture firm Turner and Townsend were awarded a four-month £150,000 contract for the transformation of Glencairn House, and have worked with Glasgow’s PagePark architects to continue work on the £4.8m project.
The ambitious plans –funded by the local authority and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund – will see Glencairn House, which was built in 1623, become home to a museum of Dumbarton’s history, as well as a library and community spaces.
Items on display are set to include a Roman Medallion found in the town, a logbook from the Cutty Sark and 15th and 16th century Royal Charters.
The building, which it is hoped could open in 2024, will also offer panoramic views onto the River Leven and Levengrove Park and a cafe.
Drawings show that the new venue would feature a striking ‘bespoke turquoise/green glaze to ceramic cladding’ which was developed in partnership with Glasgow-based artist Helen Kellock.
The highest point of the new extension sections would remain lower than the original Glencairn House however, whilst existing windows and doors would be replaced by double-glazed alternatives.
In the application, WDC’s planning, building standards and environmental health manager Pamela Clifford, said that no concerns were raised by Historic Environment Scotland about the proposals – adding that their representative was ‘very happy’ with the plans.
Under the plans Dumbarton’s existing library will become a public archive space that will give residents easy access to the council’s archive of artefacts, paintings and documents for the very first time.
The Glencairn House project is a key part of £20m plans to transform Dumbarton High Street, with the demolition and redevelopment of the Artizan Centre and improvements to transport infrastructure set to follow.
