A PUBLIC hearing is to be held before a final decision is reached on plans for a new clubhouse at Cove Sailing Club.

Proposals first lodged with Argyll and Bute Council earlier this year have been recommended for approval by council planning officials.

But the authority's planning, protective services and licensing committee decided on Wednesday to hold a public hearing to consider the application in detail before making a final decision on the club's planning application for its Barons Point site.

The club wants planning permission to build a replacement clubhouse with the same scale and form as the existing property.

But objectors to the plans raised concerns that the new building would have an adverse effect on nearby houses – many of which enjoy “listed building” status.

In his report on the application, council official Frazer MacLeod said the proposed development complies with all necessary regulations, but recommended a public hearing be held given the number of representations on the plans.

Mr MacLeod's report said: “The proposed development is fully in accordance with the development plan and all relevant supplementary guidance, and there are no material considerations which would indicate that the decision should depart from the policies of the adopted development plan.

“It is considered that, due to the number of representations submitted both for ang against the proposal and the matters raised in those representations, a public hearing will give added value to the assessment of the proposed development.”

Mr MacLeod’s report acknowledges that the clubhouse site “presents a number of constraints”, particularly the impact on the surrounding conservation area and adjacent listed buildings.

“The raised floor level does allow the building to be more visible within the street scene.

“However, it will be partially screened by a mature landscaped boundary, set back from the roadway and clad in natural materials of timber and a slate substitute roof.

“In addition, cross-sectional drawings were submitted showing that the proposal is a significant distance away from adjacent listed buildings and at a much lower ground level.”

The report also states that the club has slightly modified the northern elevation of the proposed building, with a revised window configuration which “now creates greater architectural merit”.

The report added: “It is concluded that, subject to the imposition of relevant conditions, the development will not give rise to significant adverse effects.”

The application attracted 25 objections and 31 expressions of support – including views on both sides from some of the club’s own members.

Alan Devenny, chairman of the club’s new building sub-committee, told the Advertiser when the plans were published that the current clubhouse building was “not fit for purpose” and that the club was attempting to strike a balance between a new building which was affordable and one which was sympathetic to its surroundings.

The club has forecast that if permission is granted, construction could get under way by late 2018 or early 2019.

No date or venue has yet been set for the committee's hearing, but the Advertiser will publish details as soon as they're announced.