The biggest social housing development in years has been given the green light in Clydebank.

A total of 126 homes will be built on the site of the former St Andrews High School in the heart of the town.

It will fill long-derelict land on North Douglas Street and bring more residents towards the town centre, area schools and the nearby new Clydebank Community Sports Hub.

Councillors on West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee approved the plans last week, which will range from one bedroom flats to five bedroom houses and include specialist housing for residents with additional needs.

But the committee did raise concerns about the number of parking spaces, location of bins and vehicle access.

Planners said they were keen to try to move away from large central car parks for housing developments, particularly with a need for residents to use public transport more for the environment.

But they insisted planned empty grass areas could be converted to additional parking spaces if needed.

Bailie Denis Agnew raised the issue of there being just one entry road to the new estate, despite his support.

He said: “It’s a great development - 100 per cent support for that. One of the issues is access - I think that would be a major concern.”

Bailie Agnew suggested opening up Whitecrook Street into Glasgow Road as a “more logical back stop to future proof” the development.

Planners said the concern was deemed to be “acceptable by the consultants”.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill said the shortfall of 43 parking spaces was “not small”.

Pamela Clifford, planning and building standards manager, told the committee: “For me, it’s not just about numbers, it’s about location. As we move towards more car sharing and leasing, we want to get away from immense car parks.”

Bailie Agnew added they should be “realistic” about how long it could take to move people away from car ownership.

The committee approved the housing plans and noted Bailie Agnew’s dissent over the issues of parking the opening up Whitecrook Street on to Glasgow Road.