GREEN spaces in Dumbarton and the Vale could be protected under the latest vision for land use in the area.

Planners want to focus any potential housing developments on derelict land in urban cores instead of expanding outwards into natural areas.

The council’s planning committee this week will consider the draft Local Development Plan 2 (LDP) covering every aspect of how land is used.

West Dunbartonshire has 171 hectares of vacant and derelict land across 45 sites, with 14 hectares within the urban area.

The plan states regenerating those sites will “reduce the need for greenfield sites to be built on”.

It includes broad strategies for Queens Quay, the former Exxon site at Bowling, Clydebank town centre, Dumbarton town centre, Alexandria town centre, Bowling basin and the Vale of Leven industrial estate.

There are policies to protect and enhance the Kilpatrick Hills, protect watercourses, and protect the canal and Antonine Wall from inappropriate development.

Additional housing is earmarked for the former council offices at Church Street, Alexandria, current Clydebank Health Centre, Hardgate Health Centre, the former RHI site in Clydebank, Strauss Avenue in Clydebank, Main Street in Jamestown, Glebe in Old Kilpatrick and the former Carman Waterworks in Renton.

Affordable housing is specifically mentioned for the Littlemill Distillery in Bowling and former Faifley Bowling Club.

There is also support for expanding the Golden Jubilee hospital and tourism development and roadside services at Milton and Lomondgate.

It would also deal with improvements to Kilbowie Roundabout.

The proposed plan has already been recognised for prioritising so-called “green infrastructure” in developments.

The last LDP was never adopted after a fight between the council and the Scottish Government’s reporter over turning greenbelt land into housing.

Scottish ministers told planners they would have to allow development on Duntiglennan Fields in Duntocher. So, the planning committee unanimously voted against adopting the LDP.

Now, seven years since last LDP was adopted, the council is going through the process again. If the new plan is approved by councillors on the planning committee this week, it will be published for public comments for six weeks, with information sessions across the area.

The committee will look at all the feedback by April 2019.