A SPECIAL meeting has agreed a land deal to ensure plans for a district heating scheme remain on track.

The project at Queens Quay had been moving ahead until councillors were advised in November to reach an agreement on the complete project rather than a “piecemeal approach”.

Councillors on the infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee voted unanimously for the land deal and an extra £900,000 and legal fees needed.

The money will also go to developing management of the District Heating Energy Centre and network, as well as the deal between Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CRL), West Dunbartonshire Council and the Energy Supply Company (ESCO), which will be wholly owned and run by the council.

District heating will see water from the Clyde provide cheap heat for homes, businesses and public buildings in the Queens Quay development, West College Scotland, Clydebank Leisure Centre. It could one day stretch to the Golden Jubilee hospital and has long been championed by Dalmuir residents in hopes it will be of benefit to them.

Dalmuir resident and campaigner Craig Edward said: “For many years the Dalmuir Multi-Storey Flats Tenants and Residents Association have consistently raised the prospect of the council adopting a district heating system to provide affordable heating to tenants on low incomes. 

“Each councillor and council officers involved should be commended for listening and bringing the prospect of a district heating system in Dalmuir a massive step forward to alleviate fuel poverty.”

When the energy centre is complete by the end of 2018, it will trigger the Scottish Government to hand over £6.1 million to the council, who are providing another £6m towards the heating project cost.

IRED convenor Councillor Iain McLaren said: “This is a fantastic project, and will be a landmark facility that will be second to none in the whole of the country. 

“It will place Clydebank and West Dunbartonshire centre stage in the arena of cheap, environmentally friendly energy generation. Although highly technical, once proven the system will be easily replicated at other sites in the authority.”