In September 2020, an agreement to transfer ownership of Esso Petroleum Company Ltd’s former Bowling Terminal site to West Dunbartonshire Council was officially confirmed. As part of this agreement, Esso is fully committed to voluntarily remediating the site to standards agreed with Local Authority and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regulators in order to prepare it for future beneficial use.

Project Overview


Esso Petroleum Company Ltd is voluntarily remediating its former Bowling Terminal site as part of its agreement in September 2020 to transfer ownership of the land to West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC). The site is being remediated to standards agreed with WDC and SEPA to prepare it for future beneficial use.

The land is a key component of WDC’s vision to redevelop the Bowling site through its ambitious regeneration plans. The plans are part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal project between the UK and Scottish governments and the eight local councils in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley area.

Esso has appointed remediation specialist, DEME Environmental UK, to carry out the work. The company is part of DEME, one of Europe’s largest maritime and environmental engineering companies, with more than 25 years’ remediation experience.

In addition to the remediation works, Esso will be reconstructing part of the Centrefield shoreline by creating a new sea wall consisting of natural rock armour.

qwe We are committed to keeping the local community informed of the work programme and will provide updates via this website.

Method of Remediation


The remediation work will involve the Centrefield area and parts of Westfield and Northfield at the Bowling site. It comes after Esso voluntarily and successfully remediated the Eastfield area of the brownfield site in summer of 2014 to a standard agreed with WDC and SEPA.

Following ground investigations, appropriate remediation measures were identified which would also maintain and protect the health and safety of the local community and the natural environment.

A specialist soil washing method will be used to remediate these parts of the Bowling site. The works involve the excavation and screening of soils before on-site treatment of impacted soils.

Treatment of impacted soils and waters will be completed within the overall site boundary. The treated soils will then be used to backfill the excavations, typically to the levels present before the remedial works commenced. All equipment required for the remediation works will be contained on site and removed from site once the work is completed.

We are committed to carrying out the work in the most environmentally sensitive and responsible manner and will continue to work closely with the regulatory authorities and SEPA to ensure the programme of works meets their standards and that robust mitigation measures are in place.

Site History

For more than 70 years since 1918, the Esso Bowling site was used for the handling, processing and distribution of a broad range of petroleum products. Much of the man-made industrial site, which covers around 100 acres in total, was created through reclaimed land from the Clyde shore.

Bowling terminal played its part during World War II, when it was used to fuel naval ships built or repaired at Clydebank.

The site went on to be at its most active during the 1960s and 1970s by which time, there was an annual throughput of around 1million tonnes of oil for local distribution, and Esso employed around 200 people.

Operations at Bowling were scaled back in the 1980s when the low oil price, combined with higher shipping costs and better motorway networks, meant that more efficient transport methods were required.

By the mid-1990s, most of the site had ceased commercial activity with storage tanks and site buildings removed. The site was completely closed by 2009 after Esso’s former truck maintenance centre was demolished and removed. Since then, the site has remained unused.

WDC Vision for Bowling


In January 2021, West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) was granted planning permission to create a major industrial and commercial development on the former Esso fuel terminal site, which will see it transformed into a mixed-use development including storage, distribution, industrial, business and office space.

Of the 150 acres, 45 acres will be developable land and it is proposed that a further two acres are used for the creation of a new road.

The Council’s works also include road and rail bridges connecting to the site as well as a green open space including a waterfront pedestrian and cycle path.

In addition, a heritage area has been identified around Dunglass Castle and a protection zone was included in the planning application to ensure the listed structure and its setting are not compromised as the site develops and evolves.

When complete, it is expected the regeneration project will provide up to 980 full time jobs as well as an additional 670 jobs during the construction stage.

Esso and WDC are working together to determine the optimal schedule of works for both parties’ respective projects. Any updates will be provided by the relevant party.

Timeline

Ahead of the remediation programme starting, initial preparatory work was undertaken between June and December 2021. This predominantly involved establishing work and welfare facilities for workers, construction of working platforms and taking delivery of equipment and associated materials, while also ensuring the site is fully compliant with COVID-19 regulations.

The following provides an outline of the programme of works:

  • February 2022

    The first phase of excavation work began ahead of the start of soil washing works.

  • March 2022

    Soil washing works began.

  • Q2 2023 - Q4 2023

    Remediation and shoreline works are expected to be completed. This will be followed by the demobilisation of remediation equipment and work facilities from the site.

  • Q1 2024

    Ownership of Bowling site including Dunglass House to be transferred to West Dunbartonshire Council.

    *Please note that following completion of the remediation works, there will be a period of low-key work, such as ground monitoring, which will run for approximately six months. It will involve a skeleton team and minimal equipment on site.

Q&A

A.

The programme of remediation works is estimated to run for approximately two-and-a-half years subject to any unexpected setbacks such as COVID-19 related restrictions. This will be followed by a period of low-key work, such as ground monitoring, which will run for approximately six months and will involve a skeleton team and minimal equipment on site.

A.

As the work is to be largely contained on site, we do not expect any significant volume of traffic will be added to the road network. While there may be occasions during peak operation when traffic is impacted on or near Dumbarton Road, which is the primary site access point, we will work to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum. In addition, vehicle movements to and from the site are being scheduled to avoid school times.

A.

The works are to be undertaken in a manner to avoid any impact to the local community and will be carried out in accordance with the agreed Construction Phase Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and Remediation Strategy. Most works will also take place in an area that is located furthest away from the residents, further mitigating any impact.

A.

The former Bowling terminal is an active remediation site featuring heavy civil earthworks, equipment and deep excavations. The area has therefore been fenced off. For your own health and safety please do not attempt to enter the site.

A.

No, there are no works required in the area where Dunglass House is located.