Dumbarton FC’s plans to build a new football stadium on a site at Young’s Farm have hit a snag after archaeologists revealed the remains of a medieval manor house – occupied by Robert the Bruce – may be based at the site.

A submission letter to the football club’s planning application from the West of Scotland Archaeology Service – which provides advice and information to ten member councils across the region, including West Dunbartonshire Council – reveals an “extensive programme” of work may be required on the site to determine whether findings of “national importance” lay at the site.

The £14m Sons plans, which have been formally submitted for planning, will see the club move from its current base in Castle Road and build a new 3,000-seater stadium, alongside plans for as many as 200 new homes with leisure facilities, restaurant and a gym.

The submission from WoSAS claims there is convincing evidence that the medieval house existed somewhere in the region between Renton and Dumbarton, with the defined area where this structure is likely to have been located lying “almost wholly” within the planned stadium site.

The recommendation from the letter is that an extensive period of archaeological work takes place prior to consent being given for the proposal, and lays out that if deposits are found at the site related to the potential house, these may have to be left ‘in situ’ at the site – forcing the stadium developers to look elsewhere.

Paul Robins, senior archaeologist at WoSAS, said: “The discovery of remains of the house on the site would be considered a finding of national importance and therefore it is government policy on such findings to keep remains in situ and we have the opportunity to advise the council to refuse the application.

“The council hasn’t offered any feedback on whether the requirement has been made, and it’s not often we dig in our heels over issues, but this has the potential to be one of the eventualities where that may be required.”

In comments made last year, club director Ian Wilson said that he hoped the “overwhelming majority” of fans would understand the commercial case behind the relocation, amid concerns over whether the club should be moving to land which has been designated as greenbelt.

The letter follows on the back of local opposition to the new stadium plans, including a notice published last week from Silverton and Overtoun Community Council of their intentions to formally oppose the stadium plans.

Rose Harvie, planning officer for the community council, said: “At a meeting of Silverton and Overtoun Community Council on Thursday, June 15, after discussion, a majority vote was taken to submit an objection to the planning application for the proposed move of Dumbarton Football Club to Young’s Farm.

“The community council accepts that this is a likely to be a controversial planning issue, but believes that there are sufficient grounds to object, both on planning policies, and various other ‘material considerations’.

“The community council is willing to advise and assist anyone who wishes to submit an objection, but who maybe unclear both as to the issues, and how to submit objections to West Dunbartonshire Council. This is in accordance with our constitution.”