New Helensburgh images for former building revealed

Earlier this year, we reported that a proposal has been lodged with Argyll and Bute Council by Mr Joe Lee for the complete demolition of the former Great Wall restaurant at 9 East Clyde Street, along with the building of adjacent flats.

But a design statement submitted with that application said number 9 cannot be demolished unless the building at number 5-7 East Clyde Street is pulled down too.

Mr Lee's application for permission to demolish the building at number 9 is still awaiting a decision from the council's officals.

Number 5-7 has been the subject of a dangerous building order by Argyll and Bute Council, and has on more than one occasion forced the closure of the street between Sinclair and Maitland Streets.

Now the property at number 9 has been listed for sale as a development opportunity by a local estate agent - and images have been revealed showing what the redeveloped site could look like.

The property is being listed for sale via rightmove.co.uk by the Helensburgh office of estate agent McArthur Stanton.

New CGI images of the development plans for the site in Helensburgh has been revealed (Image: McArthur Stanton Solicitors)

The estate agents are seeking offers for the site being sold as it is in the region of £150,000.

In the online listing McArthur Stanton say: "[This is a] rarely available property development site located within the town centre of Helensburgh. Site is being sold as seen.

"Planning permission was granted for the demolition of a two storey and attic property, and the erection of seven one and two bedroom flats and maisonettes. This application has now lapsed."

Mr Lee's proposals, which were submitted in January this year, would see seven flats added to the site along with commercial space.

The proposed layout inside the development on East Clyde Street (Image: McArthur Stanton Solicitors)

Planning permission for seven flats on the site was previously granted in 2015, but nothing has ever been developed.

A design and access statement by Helensburgh firm Puregreenspace, lodged alongside Mr Lee's application in January, stated: “Less than two months after going on the market in 2016, East Clyde Street/the A814 directly in front of the building was closed due to a structural failure in the adjacent building at 5-7 East Clyde Street, which occurred on April 12, 2016.

“Following these structural problems, the adjacent building was evacuated, and the road remained closed for four weeks following the incident. This led to a dangerous building notice being served on No. 5-7 East Clyde Street, which has remained in place ever since.

“This has directly affected the marketing of the application site both for buyers and potential investors.

"Since the initial incident there have been several more road closures, in May 2018 for three months and then a further three weeks after Storm Ali in September 2018, then in October 2020 when sections of number 5-7 fell on the street in high winds.

"During the 2020 incident, two sections of the roof at 9-11 East Clyde Street were damaged by the falling debris, which was not noticed until later in 2021 as a result of the road closure and the numerous lock-down periods that were in place at that time.

“Due to the condition of the adjacent site 9-11 cannot be demolished, as that would cause a disproportionate collapse in 5-7.

"It is hoped that a refreshed planning permission for 9-11 and an enforced demolition of 5-7 will allow both sites to be successfully redeveloped.

“The intention is to keep the ground floor as commercial class 1 or 2, with class 9 flats from first floor upwards, and therefore the class use will remain sui generis.”

To view the plans and submit comments, visit the council’s online planning portal at argyll-bute.gov.uk and use reference number 24/00148/CONAC.