THE developer behind plans for more than 300 new homes in Helensburgh says it has "refined its plans and vision" for the site after two public engagement events last year.
Taylor Wimpey West Scotland's proposals for part of the Helensburgh Golf Club site in the north-east of the town were made public on Argyll and Bute Council's website last month - giving the public the first chance to formally comment on the plan.
The building firm says it has "listened carefully to comments and feedback" from two online engagement events on the plans last year.
In addition to "around 307" homes - 25 per cent of which will be designated as 'affordable' and delivered jointly by Taylor Wimpey and Dunbritton Housing Association - Taylor Wimpey is also seeking permission to demolish Helensburgh Golf Club's existing clubhouse, build a new one in its place, create six new golf holes to replace those on the part of the current course earmarked for housing, and create a new six-hole 'par three' course.
The homes for direct purchase from Taylor Wimpey will be a mixture of one, two, three, four and five bedroomed properties.
But documents published alongside the company's application paperwork - which itself runs to several hundred pages - reveal frustration at the long delay in getting the proposals made public.
READ MORE: Plans for 300 new homes in Helensburgh go public - and you can now have your say
The council’s website reveals that the application was received by the local authority on September 6 - but was not fully validated, and therefore published and opened up for public comment, until January 20.
Alongside hundreds of documents providing details such as topographical layouts, floor plans and lists of proposed building materials, is an email exchange between Montagu Evans LLP, the property consultants acting for Taylor Wimpey, and council planners.
A Montagu Evans representative contacted a council official on January 19 – the day before the plans finally went public – to state: “I believe this is your fifth letter advising that our application is invalid for various reasons.
“I am happy to commit to providing the necessary clarifications and plans ASAP, but we both agreed that this validation process has been running for too long and the application needs to be validated without any further delay.
“Many of the points we have addressed over the last three months have been very minor and arguably not validation requirements, but admittedly the council has rightly requested other information/plans, which we have provided, in order that the application can be validated.”
That prompted a response from the council planning officer dealing with the case saying that the application “will be validated based upon current submissions” - but adding that further information on floor plans, scales and elevations of some of the house types on the site was still required.
Following publication of the formal application, Colin Blair, technical director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, said: “Following a detailed and thorough community engagement process we have refined our plans and vision for the proposed development at Helensburgh Golf Course.
"We have listened carefully to the comments and feedback that we have received and have used this to inform our proposal for this impressive area in Helensburgh.
“This development would represent a significant and continued investment in the local area by Taylor Wimpey and we look forward to positive discussions with the local authority in order to progress this development.”
John Laverty, Helensburgh Golf Club's president, added: “The feedback and support of the local community and key stakeholders throughout the engagement period has been very informative in helping us to create an exciting and dynamic set of proposals for the club and the golf course.
"We are delighted to confirm that our detailed planning application has been submitted to Argyll and Bute Council for consideration, signalling a further key milestone in our vision for the future of Helensburgh Golf Club for both its members and the wider local community of which we’ve been proud to be a part of since 1893.”
Members of the public can view, and comment on, the application on Argyll and Bute Council's website - simply type the planning reference code 21/01879/PP in the Search box.
A decision is expected by Thursday, May 19.
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