Business leaders say the town is on the brink of a revival helped by the continuing regeneration and new businesses.

Supermarket firm Tesco is gearing up to submit a planning application to West Dunbartonshire Council in the next few weeks to build on the site of the Playdrome leisure centre in central Clydebank.

If the move goes ahead for the 84,000 sq ft store, it will bring almost 500 jobs to the area. It will also signal the go-ahead for a new £15m leisure centre next to it on the Queen's Quay site.

The proposed development will be a welcome addition for shoppers and to the nearby Clydebank Shopping Centre, which is hoping to attract big brands.

Jim McAloon, head of regeneration and economic development at West Dunbartonshire Council, said it was an exciting time for the town. The council has set a target to attract £200m of private investment into West Dunbartonshire over the next five years.

He said: "Tesco has a good track record of making sure people from the area they're building in get the jobs so if the proposed plans happen we are confident people from Clydebank will reap the benefits in employment.

"The proposed leisure centre will have a glass frontage looking out on to the river. We have no doubt that it will be a state-of-the-art facility."

If the supermarket's plans go ahead, the shop would open in around three years' time.

Clydebank Shopping Centre, home to more than 100 retailers including New Look, Dorothy Perkins and Primark, is attracting more high-street favourites.

Bianca Vlcek of PCP Management which runs the site, said a lot of changes would take place in the next two to three years. She said: "We have just recently completed Costa Coffee and that should be open before Christmas.

"We are in talks with two very familiar high street fashion brands which we want to bring to the centre.

"We will continue to push hard to attract more businesses and keep those who occupy the centre content by being as flexible as possible and making sure that maintenance work is carried out quickly."

The shopping centre has won numerous awards for environmentally friendly campaigns. The latest was a Green Apple Environmental Award in the national drive to find Britain's greenest organisation.

Overall, the carbon footprint of the centre was cut by 28.55%.

Around 140,000 customers come through the doors of the building every week.

It also attracts people from places further afield such as Partick, Drumchapel and Hyndland to its 10-screen Empire Cinema.

Local business owners say the town needs more shops worry big names will push independent retailers out. Christine Martin, of Walters of Clydebank, said: "It needs department stores like a Marks and Spencer or a Debenhams.

"But big supermarkets can push some small retailers out."

Mr McAloon is confident the shopping mall may grow into something similar to Braehead, the hugely popular commercial and leisure destination on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Mr McAloon said he hopes this will attract different kinds of businesses to the area such as restaurants and cafes.

He added: "We want people to have the whole experience so we hope food and beverage facilities are set up around the canal.

"The waterfront has huge potential for these kinds of businesses."

Gloria Coats, corporate affairs manager at Tesco said consultations on the plan were beginning soon. She said: "We will shortly be bringing forward proposals for a new Tesco store at the Playdrome site in Clydebank and undertaking consultation with local people.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to deliver this investment in Clydebank, bringing hundreds of jobs, value for money and choice for local people as well as moving forward West Dunbartonshire Council's plans for a new leisure centre.

"We will soon be consulting on our plans with the local community to find out what they would like from a Tesco in Clydebank.

"If you would like to get involved in the consultation process, call me on 0845 521 8425 or send an e-mail to: tesco@communityline.org"

Clydebank shops: Your views

Darren Kenny, 25, marine engineer, Duntocher: "I think it would be a great thing to have more shops here. It will attract more people from places like Bearsden and Milngavie. It's full of pound shops but it needs higher quality ones."

Ellen Edward, 60, West End: "It's easy to get a parking space at the square and there's a great selection of shops already. I would find it a bit of a shame if they got rid of the Playdrome leisure centre. Where will people swim while it's closed?"

Michelle Clarke, 28, social care worker, Clydebank: "This would be a great thing. It always seems busy enough here but there should be more variety and I think a lot more people who live outside Clydebank would travel in if there was more choice."

William Wilson, 58, former naval officer, Clydebank: "We need some more shops here and we need some competition for the only supermarket here, Asda. I usually go all the way to Morrisons in Dumbarton for a bit of variety."

Alice Clarey, 66, Knightswood: "We could definitely do with a few more shops here. I'd like to see a Marks and Spencer and a Debenhams. But we'll just have to see what happens, there definitely needs to be more choice."