PLANS for a major new housing development in Helensburgh have been withdrawn – more than two years after they were made public, and with no sign of a final decision being made on the proposals.
Taylor Wimpey and Helensburgh Golf Club were seeking permission from Argyll and Bute Council for 307 new homes on part of the golf club’s land, including an ‘affordable housing’ element.
Documents newly published on the local authority’s website do not make clear whether the application will be re-submitted in a new form.
The plans also included the demolition of the club’s existing clubhouse and the construction of a new facility, along with new holes on the existing course and a new par 3 course.
Among the latest documents on the application published on the council’s planning portal is an email, dated Wednesday, August 14, asking for the application to be withdrawn.
Argyll and Bute Council has received 88 objections from the public to the plans, which were first submitted to the council in 2021 and validated in early 2022.
A letter from the council to the applicants, in late May, asked for an extension until the end of June for the application to be assessed by officers.
That was the latest request from the council for an extension to the determination deadline on the plans, which included several hundred different documents.
However, a description of the project remained available to view on Taylor Wimpey’s website.
The site says: “Overlooking the Clyde Estuary, the redevelopment of Helensburgh golf course in partnership with Helensburgh Golf Club aims to deliver an impressive development of 307 new homes, along with upgrades and reconfiguration of the existing golf course.
“Our proposals include an impressive range of one to five bedroom homes from our Scottish housetype range, along with a choice of four and five bedroom homes from our Caledonian Collection homes to appeal to a wide range of customers.
“In accordance with council policy, 25 per cent of homes will be affordable homes.
“The development has been designed to maximise the outdoors for the enjoyment of the community with pockets of green space and upgrades to cycling and pedestrian routes via Old Luss Road along with new connections to core footpath network.
“With great transport links, Helensburgh is well placed for those looking to commute for work.
“Both Helensburgh Upper and Helensburgh Central train stations are nearby providing regular services to Dumbarton and Glasgow.”
Taylor Wimpey previously built the Hermitage Grange development on the site of the old Hermitage Academy at the east end of the town.
The developer also submitted a ‘pre-application notice’ to Argyll and Bute Council in late July for a development at Murrays Road in Cardross.
That pre-application notice is due to be considered by the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee at its meeting on Wednesday, August 21.
As it is a pre-application notice, no decision will be made on whether to allow the development.
Taylor Wimpey and Helensburgh Golf Club have been contacted for comment.
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