A FORMER Helensburgh shop could become a café or restaurant under plans which have been submitted to council chiefs.

The site at 11 West Princes Street was previously home to First Class stationery shop and then the Rossdhu Refills eco-friendly shop, which closed in May due to personal circumstances.

It is now the subject of an application to Argyll and Bute Council by Harold Hood for change of use from retail to a food and drink outlet. It is not clear what sort of food the proposed new venue would sell.

Details of the proposal are now available for viewing by the public, and comments can be submitted. A decision from planning officers is expected by early December.

A supporting statement by MH Planning Associates said: “The only external alteration to the building will be the installation of an extract duct to the rear.

“The application premises has been marketed, unsuccessfully, as a Class 1 retail unit since May 2022.

“The application premises is within a ‘Core Town Centre’ and is currently in a Class 1 use. In this specific respect Policy SG LDP RET 2 states that within the ground floor frontage premises in the ‘Core Shopping Areas’ of Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Lochgilphead, Oban and Rothesay change of use Class 1 (Shops) to any other use other than a Use Class 3 (Food and Drink) is contrary to this policy.

“Given that the proposed change of use is limited to Class 3 of the Use Classes Order it is considered in principle to be consistent with Policy SG LDP RET 2 and is therefore in accordance with the provisions of the adopted Local Development Plan.

“The application property is one of seven (primarily) single storey commercial units fronting this part of West Princes Street. It is not considered that there will be any adverse impact upon residential amenity.

“The submission of full details of the proposed kitchen extract system can be adequately controlled through the imposition of an appropriately worded planning condition.”

The statement added: “The proposed external flue will have no adverse impact upon either the character or the appearance of the Helensburgh Town Centre Conservation Area, or residential amenity.

“On this basis there is no reason why planning permission for the proposed change of use should not be able to be timeously granted.”

To view the plans, visit the council planning portal at argyll-bute.gov.uk and use the reference number 22/01931/PP.