The council’s Dumbarton office has bagged a top construction award.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s new premises, which transformed a fire-ravaged old academy building, was named as the top regeneration project at this year’s RICS Awards grand final.

The building is now home to 500 council staff, who work together in the open-plan office.

Judge Malcolm Young said: “The West Dunbartonshire Council staff can now enjoy more efficient, collaborative working while the build brings new vitality and spending power to the town centre.

“The project has skilfully merged old with new while maintaining functionality and purpose, and the added value social benefits of being located on the high street have already attracted interest from across Europe.”

Work at the site transformed the William Leiper-designed, Grade A listed façade, of the former Dumbarton Academy building, adding modern offices at the back.

Councillor Iain McLaren, convener for infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said: “I am delighted to see that the hard work and dedication that has gone into this project has seen it recognised as the best in the whole of the UK.

“We are extremely proud of Dumbarton’s rich heritage and Church Street has been sympathetically conserved to ensure that we did not lose even a small part of that.

“On top of that, this building has also given a huge economic boost to the local area. Since we opened our doors to the community, the difference in the town centre has been clearly visible and the benefits of this extra footfall are being felt by our traders and businesses.”

Councillor Marie McNair, vice convener, added: “A big congratulations must go to the team involved in delivering this ambitious project.

“The number of awards it has received to date shows the care that has gone into this project from start to finish.”