THIS week's news of a rescue plan for the Hill House in Helensburgh has been hailed by the local community.

The National Trust for Scotland unveiled plans to build a 60-foot steel cage around the Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece to protect it from the weather.

And the structure could be in place for up to ten years to allow the Trust to develop and then implement a long-term plan to preserve the property for future generations to enjoy.

But the Trust – and others – hope that the structure, and the conservation work

The cage – covered by a solid sheet-metal roof and with a metal mesh around the sides – is aimed at protecting the Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece from the wind and rain, while still allowing people to see in and out.

The Trust's application to Argyll and Bute Council for planning permission for the structure is expected to be published shortly.

Nigel Millar from Helensburgh Community Council said: “We fully support what the Trust is doing.

“The Hill House is the jewel in the crown of Helensburgh and we're delighted at the prospect of this going ahead.”

Local architect Iain MacLaren added: “I see this as an opportunity to add a new dimension to interest in the Hill House.

“It's a very positive step – and it's something the Trust has to do.”

The Trust also plans to incorporate walkways within the structure, giving visitors to the Hill House – which it plans to keep open to the public throughout – a chance to see the building, and the conservation work when it begins, up close.

The structure is the first step in a £4 million project aiming to make the property safe from the worst of the Scottish weather, which has affected the Hill House almost since its completion in 1904.

Richard Williams, the NTS general manager for Glasgow and the West, said: “We need to take the time needed to get this right. While we anticipate that the protective structure will be up next year, and we very much appreciate the support Argyll and Bute Council are giving us through the planning process to achieve this, it may have to stay in place for a number of years.

“I would say seven or eight years is a realistic estimate but from a planning point of view we have asked for up to ten.

“There are many different experts and contributors who will have a part to play finding the eventual solution. This is a conservation project of international importance.”

Simon Skinner, chief executive of the NTS, added: “The structure is effectively a porous cage, albeit a beautifully designed one, that still allows some movement of air and a degree of moisture penetration – this is essential to ensure the walls do not dry out too quickly and crumble as a result.

“While the Hill House is being protected from the elements, our conservation and architectural heritage teams can start work to find solutions that will respect the historic and design integrity of the building, meet the standards and obligations required by its listed status and ensure that this precious place will survive to inspire future generations.

“The temporary enclosure is see-through, which means that the building will still be visible from the outside, despite its respite from the elements after a century of being drenched.”

Lewis Kinneir from architects Carmody Groarke, who were commissioned to design the new structure, said: “This is a radical solution, but it also has to be elegant, because it's going to be here for a long time.”

Hill House manager Lorna Hepburn added: “This is a chance to build public interest not just in the Hill House, but in the conservation process.

“We had 29,000 visitors in the year to October 31 and we're hoping to attract at least 65,000 a year as a result of this project.”