Plans have been unveiled for a new cafe and kayaking centre near Helensburgh.

The restaurant and cafe site would be at Craigendoran Pier and follows a past guest house and kayaking business application in recent years.

Planning permission was granted in 2019 and then varied two years ago. But the application says a guest house is no longer supported.

Forbes Hamilton and Claire Fleming submitted an application to Argyll and Bute Council through HMA Architects in Helensburgh.

The land is south of Station Road and is formed from the western half of the pier railway station.

In the application, the plan states: "The site is reclaimed land which bounds the Clyde on two sides with an adjacent empty plot to the east and gated access to the site from Station Road to the north. It is covered in scrubby grass with no other planting.

(Image: HMA Architects)

"It is a private site with no public rights of way, there is no access from the main part of the site to the beach, although access can be gained in the north west corner of the site via a slipway, currently this is a private access.

"Although Helensburgh has a number of restaurants and cafes, the majority of them are in the centre or western end of the town whilst a large percentage of the housing is in the eastern end, particularly after recent new housing developments have been built.


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"The proposal is for a two storey building with storage, a drying room and showers for the kayaking business on the ground floor and the restaurant/café above. This is designed to take into account the flood levels of 5.44m and designed to cope with flooding in the lower level.

"As the building has no architectural reference points directly adjacent to it, it has been designed as a stand alone building. The proposal uses profiled metal sheeting on the first floor and roof with rendered blockwork below.

"These materials have been chosen as they will be able to withstand the exposed location of the site, both in the materials themselves and the detailing of them. This will provide a statement building of high quality."

The application said the style would be similar to the Reef Inn in Tiree.

The previous application approved in 2019 for a B&B was approved despite objections from neighbours who called the proposal an "eyesore".

The application can be found on the council's planning portal under 24/01960/PP.