The £19 million project commits investment across five buildings in West Dunbartonshire including replacements for the council’s main offices at Garshake and Rosebery Place.

The new office for Dumbarton will retain the facade of the town centre’s A-listed Burgh Hall with new purpose-built offices for 500 staff created at the rear, saving £400,000 per year.

The work should be completed by March 2017. The town’s historic Municipal Buildings will also benefit from refurbishment along with council offices in Bridge Street as part of the plans which were agreed on June 25.

The new office project follows a review of all of all the authority’s buildings aimed at reducing payments to external landlords and maximising the use of space.

Once complete the council will have 53 per cent less internal space.

The future buildings will save on future maintenance costs at the current buildings which are both in poor condition, and very energy inefficient.

Martin Rooney, council leader, said: “In Dumbarton the transfer of 500 employees into the town centre will really help the High Street and neighbouring retailers, bring council services closer to residents and renovate the historic Burgh Hall. In addition the project will save taxpayers more than £400,000 a year over 40 years.” Councillor Rooney added: I’m proud to be the leader at the time of such significant change.” Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, said: “The council’s main offices at Garshake and Rosebery have deteriorated to a terrible condition and are simply not sustainable in the long-term for our residents and for our employees.

“By investing money now we will be saving in the future and providing a platform for this council to improve the way it delivers services to residents.

“We’re putting our two main council buildings at the heart of the communities in Clydebank and Dumbarton.

“The plans will increase footfall, support the local economy and assist with the regeneration of both our major towns.” A full community consultation will begin in January 2015 when the public can have its say.