Mixed-use town centre redevelopment at Artizan Centre College Way, Dumbarton
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by West Dunbartonshire Planning Committee on 3 Jun 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed a residential-led mixed-use development with homes, retail, food and drink, offices, healthcare, leisure, public realm and infrastructure.
“DC24/108/PPP: Erection of residential-led (Class 8, Class 9 and sui generis) mixed use development including Class 1A (Retail), Class 3 (Restaurants and cafes), sui generis hot food takeaways/public houses, Class 4 (Office), Class 10 (Non-residential institutions) and Class 11 (Leisure) with associated outdoor space and public realm works, access, landscaping, parking and infrastructure at Artizan Centre, College Way, Dumbarton by West Dunbartonshire Council.”
Officer report
The site and its setting
The approximately 2.8-hectare site occupied mainly the Artizan Shopping Centre within Dumbarton Town Centre, partly within the conservation area.
“The application site is located primarily on land occupied by The Artizan Shopping Centre and extends to approximately 2.8 ha. The site is bound by High Street to the south, Risk Street to the west, car parks and Dumbarton Bowling Club to the north and St Mary’s Way to the east.”
Officer report
Flood risk was the main concern
The proposal did not fully comply with flood policy because homes and a health centre were highly vulnerable uses, although officers considered the coastal risk predictable and manageable.
“The Roads Service set out that whilst the objection from SEPA is acknowledged, it is noted that there is an existing flood risk to Dumbarton and the new development more explicitly takes into account future flood risk. The Roads Service advise that in considering the detail of the development, it a requirement that it is based on a flood resilient design and does not increase the existing flood risk to the surrounding area.”
“It is acknowledged that the proposal does not accord fully with the criteria set out in Policy 22 of NPF4. However, the nature of the flood risk must also be considered and the flooding of this site in this case is coastal / tidal. This results in an increased ability to forecast flood events and flood warnings can generally be provided up to 48 hours in advance of a flood event caused by weather/pressure conditions offshore.”
Officer report
What people said
One representation supported the application and raised landownership matters that were subsequently addressed.
“One representation in support was received to the application. The full details are contained within the planning file and are available for public viewing. Whilst in support, points relating to landownership adjacent to the Dumbarton Bowling Club were raised. These have subsequently been addressed by the applicant.”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee granted full planning permission subject to the listed conditions.
“GRANT full planning permission subject to the following conditions:”
Minutes
Conditions
Approved subject to 1 condition, set out in the minutes.
Sources
- West Dunbartonshire Planning Committee minutes, 3 June 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of West Dunbartonshire's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- West Dunbartonshire
- Date
- Wednesday 3 June 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- West Dunbartonshire committee decisions →
This committee's year
9 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.