Masterplans covering two of the highest profile development sites in Helensburgh will be discussed by councillors later this week.

Argyll and Bute’s executive agreed last month that the existing Pier Head masterplan be amended and updated and a new one developed for the former Hermitage Academy site.

In October, s1helensburgh reported that the council would be submitting plans to transform the former Clyde Street School site into new council offices and community facilities.

The revised plans, which contain different draft development options for the sites, have now been submitted and will be discussed by the executive on Thursday (December 15).

If the executive approves the recommendations on Thursday, the public consultation period will begin on Friday (December 16) and end on Wednesday, January 18, 2012.

Councillor Vivien Dance, chairwoman of the Helensburgh and Lomond area committee, said the revision had provided the opportunity to update the plans to take account of developments in Helensburgh over the last two years and the current economic climate.

She said: “These documents are absolutely vital in terms of what the public considers should be the future direction of development in the town.

“The masterplans, if approved, will provide a coherent and deliverable planning framework which will inform any individual development proposals for these two sites.

"There are significant potential development opportunities on the horizon which could transform the town’s economy, and our job is to ensure that whatever decisions are eventually made are based on the strongest possible foundations and public consultation.

“That’s why it is so important that we get these masterplans right.”

Councillor Dance said that she hoped that the executive would agree on the drafts this week so that the public consultation could start.

She also urged locals to look at the plans for the total site and submit their comments to the Planning Department as part of the planning process.

Describing the project as an “exciting and long overdue” one, she added: “We are refurbishing one of the most prominent buildings in Helensburgh which has been empty for a number of years and giving it a new vitality and purpose and ensuring it is retained in the heart of the town centre.   

“This project will have a major impact on council services - at the moment we have several offices across the area, each of which has significant operational costs and involves the public having to visit different sites to access council services. 

“By moving the most of our Helensburgh-based employees to one site it will not only save public money but will allow us to be more efficient in the way we provide and manage our services. 

“It will also bring many staff back into town with the obvious potential for increased footfall for our local businesses.    

“The new office will provide a one-stop shop for all residents where they can access staff and information on all council services.

“The addition of community facilities in the building was in response to suggestions from the public and I am sure many community groups will benefit from this development.”

The principal elements of each of the two documents to be discussed on Thursday are: 

Helensburgh Pier head

1. New swimming pool and leisure facility and a flexible retail space, with the layout capable of accommodating a large retail unit alongside smaller shops. Between 16 and 30 residential units are proposed above the retail. Sufficient parking for these buildings accommodated on site, but general town parking relocated elsewhere. Public access to the pier maintained with a new open space formed in front of the swimming pool and leisure building, and a walkway around the edge of the site.
2. A flexible retail space, with the layout capable of accommodating a large food retail unit alongside smaller shops. Residential units, with an increased provision of public realm along West Clyde Street. The same parking, access and walkway proposals as in the option above, with new open space in front of a new restaurant building.

Former Hermitage Academy site:

1. Retained as a housing site – allocated space for Dunbritton’s proposed development and for 115 mainstream houses.
2. Retained primarily as a housing site (allocated space for Dunbritton’s proposed development and 79 mainstream houses) with the option to also have the swimming pool and leisure facility there.

All comments received will be analysed and reported back to the executive at the beginning of February 2012, together with the finalised masterplans for further consideration in light of the public response.

What are your thoughts on the new developments for Helensburgh town centre? Is it exciting? Or should the money be spent on other things?

Let us know at s1helensburgh.