Planning consent has been granted to create a new £3.2 million linear park at the western gateway to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Inspired after New York City's High Line, the scheme aims to transform a 120-year-old disused railway bridge at Bowling Harbour in West Dunbartonshire.

The project, which is being undertaken by Scottish Canals in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council, will form a direct link between the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath and the National Cycle Network route towards Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

A 'masterplan' for the Bowling Harbour area was shaped by the Bowling Basin Charrette – a collaborative design programme which saw the local community work with other stakeholders, agencies and industry experts to develop a shared plan for its future.

Over the past three years, the scheme has created new commercial units by refurbishing arches of the area's decommissioned railway bridge. Recently, the project was recognised at the Scottish Government's Awards for Quality in Planning, taking home the prize for place-based regeneration.

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The project is being supported by the Coastal Communities Fund, Sustrans Scotland, and Historic Environment Scotland.

Helena Huws, Design and Development Manager at Scottish Canals, said: "Over the past few years, we've been working with our partners and the local community to breathe new life into Bowling Harbour, investing more than £3.2 million in the area. The transformation of the area's iconic railway bridge into an innovative new parkway overlooking the canal and the River Clyde is the next step in that story and we're delighted that the project has received planning consent.

"Our recent win at the Scottish Government's Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning was a fantastic accolade for the masterplan we've helped shape with the local community. We look forward to building on that success to bring further investment, employment opportunities and vibrancy to Bowling."

Dave Keane, Community Links Manager at Sustrans Scotland, said: "We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Scottish Canals for further regeneration in Bowling.

"The project has great potential to further attract people to the area, whilst connecting the corridor as a more direct and enjoyable traffic free route. We hope this will encourage people to walk and cycle for more of the journeys they make every day."

(LM/MH)