Sites for nearly 1,000 new houses in the Helensburgh area have been listed by planners who see it as a key region for growth.
The latest version of Argyll and Bute Council’s local development plan is expected to go out for consultation next month.
It features housing sites in Helensburgh, Shandon, Cardross, Kilcreggan, Rosneath and Garelochhead, as well as business development including a hotel at Craigendoran.
Rhu Marina and the waterfront at Rosneath are both listed as potential development areas, with uses including retail, tourism, business and retail, as well as housing at Rosneath.
But the idea of a new national park to include remoter parts of Argyll appears to have been dropped.
The latest draft of the plan will be considered by a full meeting of the council on Thursday, featuring locations for 971 new houses in the Helensburgh and Lomond area:
Of the council’s four areas, Oban, Lorn and the Isles is scheduled for the largest number of new homes – 1,369, with 650 of these at Dunbeg near Oban.
Mid-Argyll, Kintyre and Islay would see 902 houses, including 138 in Inveraray, while there are sites for 451 houses in Bute and Cowal.
As well as two new housing sites, Kilcreggan is listed as an ‘area for action’, with environmental improvements, public realm, parking and transport interchange being suggested.
Councillors on Thursday will be asked to approve the proposed Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan 2 as the authority’s ‘settled view’ before an eight-week public consultation.
A report states that the plan contained a five-year supply of housing land.
It adds: “The plan also recognises the growth potential in the Helensburgh and Lomond areas associated with the significant investment and increase in employment as a result of the expansion of HMNB Clyde (Faslane).
“Helensburgh and Lomond has been identified as a growth area in the spatial strategy, this is based on the council’s stated aim that Argyll and Bute’s economic success is built on: a growing population, and the opportunities which the Helensburgh and Lomond area provide to achieve this.
“The development of HMNB Clyde as the UK’s single submarine base by 2025 provides significant opportunities to achieve this, in that it will result in a significant increase of around 1700 new naval staff and their families by 2030, will provide ongoing opportunities for associated civilian construction projects, as well as the potential to create employment in supply chain, servicing and support businesses.
“These coupled with the area’s proximity and connectivity to Glasgow and the central belt, and its high quality environment make it a potentially attractive location for commuters and for further growth in tourism.”
It warns that although the green belt is not currently at risk, that situation may change in the future if the population continues to increase.
“There is currently sufficient development land identified in the LDP2 to avoid immediate need for a review of the green belt,” the report adds.
“However, there is also merit in exploring how Helensburgh and Lomond can develop over a 20-40 year period in order to plan appropriate infrastructure, encourage further investment, and consider, if and how a green belt review would be necessary.”
The full version of the latest draft of the plan is here (11.8mg file): Appendix 1 Draft WS v1.11
Update, January 24, 2020: Please note that this stage of consultation on the plan has now closed.
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