Consultation on Helensburgh waterfront proposal

by Democrat reporter

Argyll and Bute Council is to ask for views on the proposal for the final part of the multi-million-pound development of Helensburgh waterfront.

The proposal is to add to leisure facilities on the waterfront with a re-instated skatepark, and to invest in commercial development, which was a key part of the business case to fund the community and leisure elements of the waterfront, help keep local spend in the local economy, and create opportunities for local jobs.

Helensburgh Waterfront is being redeveloped in phases as part of a masterplan that has been shaped by public views and developed over a number of years. Over the past 10 years, the council has successfully invested £20 million in the Waterfront, including the leisure centre, public car park, sea defences and waterfront walkways, which are already in place. The last part of that regeneration is the completion of the West Clyde Street section as an area for commercial opportunities.

The proposed development is for single-story commercial units, one for a local scale supermarket, and 3 additional smaller units, as well as space for additional car parking, and the skatepark.

The site is adjacent to the pier, and the council is also supporting the project to bring the pier back into operational use as part of the wider plans to create a multi-use destination at the waterfront.

Councillor Ross Moreland, left, Policy Lead for Finance and Commercial Services, said: “At a time when many town centres are struggling to attract crucial funding, Helensburgh has the scarce opportunity to secure significant investment that could create local jobs, help keep local customer spend in Helensburgh, and make further private sector investment in the town possible.

The proposal would bring retail and leisure services together, in a site accessible by public transport, adding to the reasons for people coming into Helensburgh.

More than that, this proposal would bring income that would help deliver facilities already on the Waterfront and so reduce budget risk to other vital council services that people and businesses in the town rely on every day.”

The consultation will open on Monday, 30th June, on the council’s website: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/growth-and-development/helensburgh-waterfront-development

Views are invited at this stage on the proposal generally, as the site is on land linked to the common good.

Views on detailed designs when they are confirmed would be invited at a later stage as part of any planning application that progresses.