The sale of a former care home building in Dalmuir has been put on hold while West Dunbartonshire councillors gather more information about its future owners.

The local authority was expected to approve the sale of Frank Downie House on Ottawa Crescent to Torah Capital for £127,555 – less than half of the highest bid for the site ­– last week.

A report to the council’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee said that Torah planned to demolish the building to make way for new residential housing.

As reported in the Post’s September 8 edition, three offers were made from different companies interested in buying the site – with the highest bid being one of £265,000.

But because of the conditions attached to that higher bid, councillors were advised by officers to accept the second highest offer of £127,555 from Torah Capital – whose application was not subject to suspensive conditions.

Clydebank Central councillor John Mooney said: “This is a great development opportunity however, we need assurances that any company buying this site has a track record in development to transform this site.

"It was correct for the committee to demonstrate due diligence for officers to satisfy councillors at a future IRED committee meeting that all necessary checks are valid.”

Danny Lennie, councillor for Clydebank Waterfront added: "I was pleased to see that we continued this until a further meeting. This is the purpose of committees – to scrutinise and comment on papers put before councillors and I support the due diligence taken.

"In time, I am keen to see this former care home site transformed to benefit the people of Dalmuir as it has lay empty for several years and become an eyesore.”

Members agreed to request more information from the company and ask for more information regarding their plans for the site.

The proposals will be brought back before committee at a later date.

The building is one of four former care home facilities closed by the council on completion of the new Queens Quay care home.

One of the other now-closed properties, Boquhanran House on Dickens Avenue, was badly damaged in a fire in November 2020, nine months after the council announced that the site had been sold for £461,000 to Turnberry Homes for new housing.

Meanwhile, a bid of £265,000 from Property Scotland to buy the former Queen Mary Day Care Centre in Drumry was approved at the same meeting last week.

The company plans to retain the facility as a judo club, gym and cafe.