It was the Clydeside yard where world-famous ships including the Lusitania, the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2 were built.

Now the abandoned site of John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank is to be given a multi-million pounds makeover.

Councillors in West Dunbartonshire have rubber stamped a revamp by site owners, Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CLR).

The ten-year project will see housing, retail and leisure outlets built, as well as a Titan Crane visitor attraction.

A new boulevard walkway will also be created at the site of the former shipyard, which was most recently used to build oil rig platforms, until the gates were padlocked for the last time in 2001.

Paul O’Donnell, representing CRL, told the council’s planning committee: “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.

“Our aspiration is to create a development that’s a little bit different from other major urban regeneration projects, with high design standards at its heart.

“This development will undoubtedly grow the local economy and will become a focal point for the community to use.”

The land was bought by CLR in 2004 and the public-private Clydebank Urban Regeneration Company later spent £16m on clearing and decontamination.

A deal signed last week will see essential infrastructure and ground works put in place by West Dunbartonshire Council, paving the way for an expected £250million of private money to create a “bustling community hub”, a “showpiece” development of 1,000 new homes - including 200 social homes - a retail unit, hotel, care home and a health centre.

Council economic planners expect the development to generate £5.5m locally each year, with a further £2.9m created nationally. It is expected to provide more than 2,000 short-term construction jobs, support over 50 apprenticeships and promote construction work worth an estimated £250m.

Convener of planning, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, 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.”

Provost Douglas McAllister, vice convener of planning, added: “John Brown’s shipyard built some of the world’s most famous ships and now we are set to breathe new life into this key site.

“Bankies have a strong affinity with the yard and I’m delighted that we will now be opening it up for the whole community to enjoy.

“As well as creating around 1,000 homes across the whole development, which will improve local housing opportunities, it will also provide a state-of-the-art care home and health centre for the people of Clydebank.

“This is going to be a fantastic development and I can’t wait to see it moving forward.”