Proposals to build a new Aldi in Dumbarton have been approved by West Dunbartonshire Council.

In a planning meeting last week (August 7), councillors voted to grant the application, subject to conditions, to turn the former Allied Distillers site on the vacant land next to Castle Street into the supermarket.

A previous application that covered this site which was granted permission in 2018 was set to build seven retail units, however, only a Lidl was constructed.

This newly approved site would include 87 car parking spaces including six disabled bays, two of which would feature electric vehicle chargers (EV), two standard EV charging spaces, eight parent and child spaces, and two click-and-collect spaces. 

Five cycle hoops will provide parking for 10 bicycles and a footpath with a zebra crossing will allow pedestrian access through the car park and to the main door of the store.

Aldi says the store will bring 35 jobs to the area and over £4 million in local investment.

However, the application was objected to in principle by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) after they raised concerns over flooding that would risk local property and people.

Papers from the committee meeting have laid out 27 conditions the planning application should meet including recommendations on the flood risk assessment carried out in April.

Other conditions include the replenishment of shrubbery and trees within five years, a bird nesting survey and the incorporation of low and/or zero-carbon technologies.

A spokesperson from Aldi said: “We are absolutely delighted that the application has been approved by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Planning Committee last week.

“We have long strived for a store in Dumbarton, and we can’t wait to bring our offering to the local community. We are confident our now approved proposals will make a positive impact through the creation of 35 local jobs and a significant investment of £4.7million into the local area.

“We are pleased to have received approval for a new scheme that includes significantly enhanced flood prevention measures. We expect this to be recognised by Scottish Ministers, as part of the referral process, which we are aware must be completed before the planning permission can be issued.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their overwhelming support for our proposals and we look forward to welcoming them to our store in 2026."