THE cost of Helensburgh’s planned new waterfront development could rise by another £300,000 because of a decision to defer a final verdict on the proposals, councillors have been told.

The “ballpark figure” of £25,000 a week was revealed by John Gordon, Argyll and Bute Council’s capital regeneration programme manager, at a meeting of the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee.

Mr Gordon said the overall programme was now around 12 weeks behind schedule.

But the committee was quickly reminded that the cost of any project cannot be taken into account when deciding whether to grant planning permission.

Local councillors discussed the waterfront project just 24 hours after Argyll and Bute’s planning committee decided to continue consideration of the plans until January.

Area chair Ellen Morton, a passionate supporter of the waterfront plans, asked Mr Gordon: “From your experience, what, if any, impact on costs does a delay have?”

Mr Gordon replied: “A number of factors affect that. A two or three week delay in the early stages of design would have quite a minimal impact.

“But when it comes to the programme impact, that’s when the real monetary value kicks in.

“That is due to a number of reasons. For example, with a construction programme of 100 weeks, a week’s extension might equate to approximately £25,000 per week because of having staff on site for longer.

“If you are changing design, you could have additional design fees. There is also the impact of inflation.

“But if you take everything into account, such as letting sub-contracts, material costs and inflation, you could have a ballpark figure of £25,000 a week.”

But Lomond North councillor George Freeman, a member of the planning, protective services and licensing committee (PPSL), who backed continuing the waterfront plans until January, immediately replied: “As far as costs are concerned, they are not a factor the planning committee can take into account at all.”

Mr Gordon told last Thursday’s meeting that the PPSL’s decision to continue consideration of the plans – first until last week and then until January – was likely to mean a total 12-week delay in the completion of the project.

Council leader Aileen Morton asked whether the bad weather earlier in December had had any impact on the current swimming pool.

Mr Gordon replied: “While we await construction of the flood defences, there is a serious risk of the current facility being damaged by flood action.

“I understand some water did get in to the current swimming pool building the other week.

“It didn’t have a detrimental impact on services, but it is a known risk.”

Meanwhile, a report to the area committee revealed that the overall cost of the waterfront project has now risen to £19 million.

Councillors agreed to recommend to the authority’s policy and resources committee that allowance be made for a further £513,680 to be spent on including two elements of the proposed work – public realm works along the West Clyde Street side of the site, and relocating the John Muir Way landscape feature to the corner with Sinclair Street – within phase one of the project, instead of phases two and three respectively.

Mr Gordon also said that consultation on the marine element of the proposed works was due to end on December 27, but that due to the New Year break, feedback from Marine Scotland on the consultation outcome was not expected until early January.

The committee also considered three detailed questions from Dr Peter Brown, vice-convener of Helensburgh Community Council, at its meeting last Thursday.

Dr Brown wanted details on the scope of phase two of the project, the fate of an anticipated £250,000 grant from Sportscotland to pay for a moveable floor for the swimming pool, and the affordability of the overall project against what he called HCC’s “cheaper solution”.

Mr Gordon said the council had eventually applied for £100,000 from Sportscotland but that it had been informally told its bid was unsuccessful, and was now looking at other external funding opportunities.

On the overall cost question, Mr Gordon replied: “In accordance with HMRC Green Book guidance on the preparation of business cases we shall be bringing forward the full business case for consideration by the council prior to any contract being awarded.

“Only if it can be demonstrated that the project can prove that it delivers value for money and is affordable, would the council approve the award of the construction contract.

“Without the provision of any detailed technical design, cost plan, statutory approvals or programme information we fail to see how the community council can state that their alternative proposals ‘are the cheaper solution’.”