Local healthcare could be set to net £100,000 after councillors approved plans for the former Dumbarton Cottage Hospital site in Townend Road to be sold.

A meeting of the council's Infrastructure, Regeneration, and Economic Redevelopment committee last week heard about the plans, which will see the long-abandoned site turned into new housing.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have stated their plans to dispose of the former site and council regeneration officer Jim McAloon admitted at last Wednesday's meeting that it was "highly likely" that the site would be attractive for housing following interest from a local housing association in purchasing the site.

As part of the conditions attached to the application, councillors agreed that the 'net revenue gain' from the proposal would be used to support the local health and social care partnership in West Dunbartonshire.

With the receipt of the sale of the site being valued at around £160,000 and with the health board entitled to retain around £60,000 for the building's net book value and the costs of disposing the site, the total windfall for health services in the area could be set to net around £100,000.

The hospital building itself was demolished in March 2003, and the site has remained vacant for the last 14 years.

The news of the latest development has been met with approval by local councillors in the Dumbarton area.

Labour's David McBride said: "I warmly welcome the proposal from the NHS to sell the site of the former Cottage Hospital. I have been calling for this for a long time on behalf of residents who live nearby in Park Avenue and Townend Road.

"The NHS have left this site as an uncared for eyesore and has had a detrimental impact on its neighbours. I'm sure all Dumbarton residents will be pleased to see this highly visible site at Dumbarton Common developed."

SNP councillor Iain McLaren, who chairs the IRED committee, added: “I am happy that an agreement has been reached for the disposal of the site of the former hospital, which has been something of an eyesore to the residents of the surrounding area for many years.

“Given its location, the most likely use of the land, subject to various surveys, will be for housing. We will, however, consider all proposals put before us, and consult with locals when plans are available.”