Helensburgh's new look town centre has been nominated for a trio of top awards.

The regeneration project was part of the council's CHORD initiative, which aims to revitalise the region's coastal towns of Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay, and Dunoon.

The ambitious plans for Helensburgh, which were devised by architects Austin-Smith:Lord, have been shortlisted in the 2016 Scottish Property Awards in the Town Centre Regeneration Project of the Year category, and is a regional finalist in the 2016 Civic Trust Awards.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, the council was also given a nod for Scotland's first outdoor museum at the FX International Design awards.

Helensburgh is competing against the Lennoxtown Community Hub in East Dunbartonshire, and the Galashiels Transport Interchange at the property awards.

Councillor Ellen Morton, depute leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said of the new look town centre: "I think it is doing brilliantly.

"I'm absolutely delighted at the response we have had about the town.

"We are getting external recognition now for Helensburgh."

Cllr Morton said she hoped to see the expansion of the outdoor museum, which would see the history of Helensburgh "grow and breathe", adding the introduction of more items to the museum would be "quite thrilling".

Helensburgh Central councillor Vivien Dance said with the use of social media, good news about Helensburgh would spread.

She said: "Award nominations are always good for any town because it is free advertising which has the potential to bring more people to Helensburgh from a wider catchment area.

"With the growth of social media then this type of positive message about our town is good for business and our reputation is growing for good quality in a town that is now fit for purpose to welcome visitors.

"Fingers crossed for success in the awards still to be announced."

Graham Ross, Project Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord, told the Advertiser: “The re-modelling of Colquhoun Square is the most significant element of the project.

"We wanted to create a “civic heart” in the town which would include a plaza suitable for holding community events. The square provides increased amenity space, seating and planting and supports a growing “café culture.”

"The local community was keen to have a new museum space in Helensburgh Town Centre. As this was not something that was within our project brief or budget, we decided to try to provide this within the open space.

"Bollards required to control traffic movement became plinths to display artifacts and original artwork unique to Helensburgh and its history, thus creating an Outdoor Museum."

WAVEparticle Lead Artist, Peter McCaughey, said: “We imagined Scotland’s first Outdoor Museum as a place where local treasures could be permanently on display alongside objects of national significance and newly commissioned artworks, reflecting both the big history of the town and the smaller stories that make up our world.

"We envisaged this museum with a collection open to the elements, where the wind and rain and sun and touch of hand make their own contribution to the collection as it grows over the years.”