The former Carless oil terminal in Old Kilpatrick is undergoing a transformation to become a state-of-the-art maritime innovation hub and is being proposed as a site with value for a new investment of UK Government funding.

The Local Growth Fund which was announced on Thursday, January 8, is set to deliver £61m to the Glasgow city region and is targeted funding to boost living standards and improve public services.

Kirsty McNeil MP Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister . (Image: George Thorogood)

MP Kirsty McNeil and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland visited the land which has been vacant for decades as an exampled of "the sort of thing that this money is there to support."

Along with West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister, the pair toured the proposed marine hub which is set to be the first of it’s kind in the UK.

McNeil said: "This money is very flexible and local people are in control. The local authorities in the city region together, they decide where it gets spent because they know their communities best.

"This is designed to make sure that there is proper jobs and an impact on those cost of living, living standards.

"I was with Douglas at the Marine Technology Park site. That’s exactly the sort of thing that this money is there to support, that kind of project with huge implications for jobs."

What the Scottish Marine Technology Park is proposed to look like (Image: Malin Group)

The proposal titled the ‘Scottish Marine Technology Park’ (SMTP) outlines plans to develop industrial units for marine engineering, fabrication, research and development along with site access and associated infrastructure.

It is hoped it can provide 800 full-time jobs when fully operational, and it expects to draw in £134m of private sector investment.

The site was originally established as a fuel storage facility for the Admiralty in 1916.

During the Second World War, it was used by the Royal Navy as a depot and oil terminal.

Most recently it was used by Petrochem Carless as an oil refinery and associated storage until 1992 when operations ceased.

Since then, it has been vacant, with most above-ground structures associated with previous uses having been demolished.

However, the jetties on the banks of the River Clyde and partial structures remain.

McNeill added: "There’s potentially 800 well paid secure jobs at that site, which would be transformational for somewhere like here.

"Their ambitions are sky high for what will be possible for local businesses.

"This money is available for the entire region, but I would very much be looking forward to some proposals coming forward from West Dunbartonshire as it would make a difference for local folk."

The £61m funding package will be delivered to the Glasgow city region, which includes their seven surrounding council areas.

The money is not yet allocated but a bid for the Old Kilpatrick site is set to be submitted.

Douglas McAllister welcomed McNeil to the site before taking a tour around Dumbarton town centre later in the day.

He said: “This is incredible news for West Dunbartonshire.

“This investment is in addition to the £20million Pride in Place funding that the UK Labour Government already allocated to go towards regenerating Clydebank, and the Immediate Impact Fund of £1.5million for projects in West Dunbartonshire.

"I look forward to working to ensure this money is well spent."