Next step forward for £6.6m project

Fiona Howard • Published 17 Dec 2009 10:25 0 Comments

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THE multi-million pound plan to transform Helensburgh's town centre and waterfront areas has taken another significant step forward with the appointment of a design team.

The design team and quantity surveyor have now been appointed to design and cost both of the town's CHORD public realm regeneration projects.

Urban Designer's Austin Smith Lord supported by Savell Bird and Axon (Transport Engineer), O'Connor Sutton Cronin (Civil/Structural Engineers), Turley Associates (Planning/Consultation) and Wave (Artist/Consultation) will take the Helensburgh Town Centre - Traffic Management and Streetscape Improvements and the Redevelopment of the West Bay Esplanade CHORD proposals to Full Business Case stage.

In addition - subject to approval of the Full Business Case - they will procure and manage both construction contracts to their successful completion.

Robinson, Low Francis will provide both the Helensburgh CHORD Project Manager and the Design Team with cost advice, including robust costing of the designs. Again, subject to approval of the Full Business Case, they will assist in procuring and managing both construction contracts.

Austin Smith Lord will, through Community engagement, prepare and submit design proposals for Helensburgh's town centre and West Bay Esplanade to obtain the necessary statutory approvals to implement the projects, as part of Argyll and Bute Council's far-reaching £30million CHORD programme.

The CHORD (Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon) Project aims to assist regeneration and economic development in five of Argyll and Bute's key waterfront towns.

In Helensburgh, the £6.6m plans involve developing a more sustainable traffic management system in the town centre and redeveloping a section of the West Bay Esplanade.

The aim is to provide the people who live, work and visit the town with an attractive environment for shopping, relaxing, and generally socialising.

The anticipated increased footfall would bring benefit to business in the town by capturing a greater share of the retail and leisure markets. It would also enhance developer interest in Helensburgh as a place to invest.

Austin Smith Lord's and Robinson Low Francis's tasks in developing the project to Full Business Case stage will include:

* working with the community and other stakeholders to produce designs for implementing the proposals

* ensuring the design proposals for both projects are not only visually attractive but are both technically and operationally feasible and sustainable.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Chairman of the Helensburgh CHORD Project Board, said: "I am delighted to see this project continue to move forward as planned, and look forward to working with the Austin Smith Lord team and Robinson Low Francis in the coming months.

"These proposals represent a significant investment in the future of Helensburgh and in enhancing the environment for both residents and visitors alike.

"It is very exciting and reassuring to have both a Design Team and Quantity Surveyors of Austin Smith Lord and Robinson Low Francis's track record on board to take us through these next vital stages."

The Full Business Case for the Redevelopment of the West Bay Esplanade is due to complete by January 2011 and by October 2011 for the Traffic Management and Streetscape Improvements project.

The Full Business Cases will then be submitted to the CHORD Programme Management Board and the Council's Executive for approval to move to project implementation.

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 17 Dec 09

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