A CARE home containing bars and a beauty salon could be sited near Helensburgh’s Hermitage Park after plans were submitted to Argyll and Bute Council.

The proposed four-storey facility is the subject of a bid for planning permission by DTA Architects, who wish to install it in the park’s current depot area.

Their plans seek the demolition of the existing buildings on that site, with Hermitage Park almost ready to reopen to the public.

A decision on the care home, which it is said would aim to give “superior levels of care in luxurious surroundings”, is expected from the council by late April.

The authority decided last year to accept a bid to buy the site for a care home - disappointing the Friends of Hermitage Park community group, who had hoped to purchase it for community use in conjunction with the park's £3.3m million regeneration.

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A planning and access statement by the architects, on behalf of East Kilbride-based estate developer Simply UK, said: “The proposals include a specially-designed private residents garden area overlooking Hermitage Park as well as on-site parking for guests and staff.

“The proposals contain 64 bedrooms over two blocks in an L-shape arrangement designed to maximise the site potential whilst still maintaining secure garden areas and parking/servicing facilities.

“The new care home aims to offer superior levels of care in luxurious surroundings and will provide residents with hotel-like services such as a beauty salon, bars, top class food and round the clock care all set within a leafy and peaceful setting.

“These design proposals aim to significantly improve the use of this prominent site within the centre of Helensburgh, also bordering Hermitage Park which is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment programme, whilst bringing much needed facilities to the town and community.

“The proposals were originally subjected to a Pre-application Enquiry by Argyll and Bute Council planning and the subsequent proposals contained within this application have taken on board the planner’s comments.

“The proposals were deemed acceptable in principle in terms of proposed site usage and general design.”

The document added that the northern block of the proposed care home would rise to a fourth storey, under a pitched slate roof.

The southern block would be smaller in view of the Birch Cottages which lie adjacent to the proposed site.

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The statement said: “The proportions of the windows have been carefully considered to be of a style in keeping with those of the tenements and villas.

“However, (they) will offer almost floor to ceiling windows to allow significant natural light into the guest bedrooms and allow for views extending out across Helensburgh.

“The private garden space has also been carefully designed by DWA Landscape Architects, in response to the Care Inspectorate design guides, to ensure that the space is usable, safe and importantly of a high standard to allow guests to enjoy and use the space in a number of ways.

“The parking area will also see the introduction of new planting and trees around the car park and at the main entrance.”

The plans can be viewed on the council’s online planning portal under the reference number 19/00237/PP.