THE site of the former Dumbarton Cottage Hospital in Townend Road could be sold off for housing, a new report has revealed.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plan to dispose of the land and they've already identified a housing association who plan to take over the land.

A report to go before members of the West Dunbartonshire Council Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development committee (IRED) is asking them to support the planned sell-off.

The report said: "The purpose of this report is to seek committee consent to support NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGG&C) in the disposal of the site of the former Dumbarton Cottage Hospital, Townend Road, Dumbarton.

"This is conditional upon the net revenue gain from the disposal being allocated to West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (WDHSCP) to support local community / health purposes."

It's understood that any potential sale could result in a financial windfall for the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, of possibly as much as £100,000.

The report goes on to say: "The original site was sold by Mr J. McAusland in 1898 to be used by Dumbarton Social Union for the provision of a hospital.

"This function was transferred when the Health Service took over after the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 and it operated the Cottage Hospital until its closure in 2000/01."

The hospital building was demolished in March 2003 and the site has remained vacant since this date.

There have been some provisional discussions regarding the possible disposal of the site over the years but

these have not progressed- partly due to complications arising from the conditions within the title to the property.

There were also previously objections from the local community and the Council about the site being sold, although at the time this was mainly due to public concerns over the closure of the cottage hospital rather than the disposal of the site.

The report adds: "It is anticipated that the final use of the site will be for housing and NHSGG&C

have already received interest from a local housing association which is interested in developing the site."

Any potential net gain to the local heath board partnership will be calculated by taking the receipt from the disposal

of the site- estimated by an independent valuer at around £160,000- and deducting the net book value which NHSGG&C require to retain (£50,000), together with their costs of disposal (estimated at around £10,000 including

the Lands Tribunal application).

As a result the potential net revenue gain to WDHSCP could be around £100,000.

Members of the IRED committee will discuss the issue at their meeting on Wednesday.