Council plan to spend £15m on historic Grade-A listed Academy
A PLANNING application has been submitted to turn a historic building into a local authority’s new headquarters.
West Dunbartonshire Council wants to transform the Grade A-listed Academy Building in Dumbarton, designed by William Lieper 150 years ago, into an office and community space, which it hopes will help boost the regeneration of the town centre.
The £14.6 million project includes a large extension, which will house an open plan office next to a new outdoor public space. The existing facade will be retained as part of the overall design.
It was originally proposed that the council’s headquarters would be shared with a regional base for Police Scotland but the national force pulled out of the scheme earlier this year. It is still expected to have a presence in the building but the larger Dumbarton Police Office on the outskirts of the town will remain in situ.
Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, convener for infrastructure and regeneration, said: “As well as renovating one of the most iconic buildings in the town centre, the move will help to revitalise the High Street by bringing increased footfall to the shops.”
Richard MacDonald, commercial director at architects Keppie, said being involved in the project was a “privilege”, adding: “Our aim has been to respect the architectural significance of the original building, to repair its facade and to see it become part of a modern, flexible workplace.
“We want to preserve its civic nature by housing the community operations within its envelope, keeping the new office floor plates efficient, flexible and well lit, to the rear of the site.”