West Dunbartonshire Council has announced plans to sell the former Balloch Library building for £150,000 next month. The decision comes after the council moved forward with relocating the library to unused space within the Balloch Campus last year, which already houses two primary schools and an early learning centre.
Despite facing opposition from parents and residents, who organised a petition with over 2,000 signatures and even initiated a legal challenge, the council proceeded with the relocation to save jobs. The new library space at the Balloch Campus is significantly smaller, with a 72 percent reduction in size from 192sqm to around 55sqm.
Next month, councillors from West Dunbartonshire Council’s infrastructure, regeneration, and economic development committee will consider approving the sale of the old library building to McVey and Burns Property Investment Limited for £150,000 plus VAT. The sale to the property investment firm, out of five offers ranging from £70,000 to £150,000, is intended for the transformation of the site into a residential development.
If approved, the sale of the former Balloch Library building will mark a significant change in the area’s landscape and potentially bring new housing opportunities. The council’s decision reflects a shift towards repurposing existing spaces for more contemporary needs, ensuring the efficient use of resources and potentially benefiting the local community with new amenities or developments. It will be interesting to see how this sale and redevelopment project unfold and contribute to the ongoing evolution of Balloch.