DETAILS of the amended plans to build 300 new homes on part of Helensburgh Golf Club’s land will go public this week.
Housing developer Taylor Wimpey says it will unveil its detailed proposals at an online public consultation event on Friday, July 30.
It’ll be the first chance for the public to see what – if any – changes have been made by the company following an initial consultation event in February.
Taylor Wimpey says the event next week – taking place two months later than originally planned – will allow the company and the golf club “to present the design evolution for the proposed development, and highlight the changes which have been made to the proposals to address comments received from Argyll and Bute Council.”
Concerns were raised by members of the public and Helensburgh Community Council at the initial consultation event over access arrangements to the new development, with the sole access route to almost all of the new properties, and to the golf club, proposed to be via East Abercromby Street.
Other worries were raised over the privacy of people living in homes on Machrie Drive, close to the development site.
It’s not yet clear how much – if at all – those concerns have influenced the formal planning application.
In addition to the 300 new homes, 25 per cent of which will be “affordable” and will be available for social rent through Dunbritton Housing Association, the project includes demolishing the golf club’s existing clubhouse and building a new one in its place.
READ MORE: Net zero aim ' not viable' for 300 planned new homes in Helensburgh, developer says
As well as the new homes, the development will also see the golf club's current clubhouse demolished and a new facility built in its place.
John Laverty, president of Helensburgh Golf Club, said: “The first public consultation event was a great opportunity for us to share our initial proposals with the local community of Helensburgh.
"We have considered all of the comments that we received from Argyll and Bute Council, since the last event, we have refined our plans and now feel that we have robust development proposal to share.
“This is an extremely important stage in the process of finalising the design proposals for the proposed development at Helensburgh Golf Club as we progress towards making a planning application to Argyll and Bute Council.”
Caroline Proctor, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, said: “The second and final public consultation event will give us the opportunity to show how we have refined our design proposals in response to feedback from Argyll and Bute Council and the first public consultation event.
“Unfortunately, due to the ongoing health emergency, we are still unable to hold our public consultation event in the traditional format, however our first online consultation event was very well-attended, and it provided some helpful comments and insight from those who participated.
“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the local community to engage with us online once again to share their views so that we may consider these as we complete our community engagement process and finalise our proposal ahead of making a planning application to Argyll and Bute Council.”
Anyone who is unable to attend this week’s online consultation will still be able to view the revised plans at montagu-evans.co.uk/HGCdevelopment, where they’ll be published next Friday, and where a feedback form will also be provided.
READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news headlines from across Helensburgh and Lomond here
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