A historic shipyard is expected to be transformed after councillors approved plans for a major retail and residential project by the River Clyde.

John Brown's shipyard was once a monolith of shipbuilding in Clydebank, hitting its peak in 1967 with the launch of the Queen Elizabeth 2.

The yard his since suffered from a steady decline, finally closing in 2001 after commissions for oil rigs dried up.

Now, West Dunbartonshire Council has backed proposals by site owners Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CRL) to transform the site.

The redevelopment plans include leisure and retail outlets, residential housing and a health quarter and will take around 10 years to complete.

The centrepiece of the project will be the refurbished fitting-out basin and a Titan Crane visitor attraction.

It has also revealed plans for a District Heating Scheme, used to generate power by extracting energy from the river basin. It would be the first of its kind in Scotland.

Paul O’Donnell, representing CRL, said: "At long last this represents the regeneration of John Brown’s shipyard.

"We aim to create an esplanade along the entire frontage of the Clyde and round the basin, opening up this area of Clydebank to the whole community for the first time."

West Dunbartonshire planning convener Lawrence O’Neill hailed the scheme as a big step forward for the area.

He said: "This will be the most significant development in Clydebank for a generation and I'm delighted to see it moving to the next stage.

"We have an opportunity to make this an extremely unique place, which will bring benefits to the whole of Clydebank and attract more people to visit our great town.

"The plans that we have agreed to approve will help to create a new civic heart for Clydebank, which is extremely exciting."

The first phase of the development will include essential infrastructure works such as repairs to quay walls and the creation of a new road layout.

Once this work is complete the development of a care home and health centre will be able to begin, with the housing, retail and leisure elements of the plan to follow.