Landowner Luss Estates, which owns some 45,000 acres to the west of Loch Lomond, has backed the two projects by three local development trusts, which claim the projects will boost the coffers of local communities.

Last year it was announced Luss Estates was working with Helensburgh Renewables – an offshoot of Helensburgh Community Development Trust – and Green Cat Renewables, to build and operate a five turbine community wind farm above the town.

Ian Fraser, of Helensburgh Renewables (HR), confirmed the developers of Helensburgh Community Wind Farm are in the process submitting a planning application to Argyll and Bute Council for the construction of five wind turbines with an installed capacity of 4Mw on Tom Na Airdth Hill.

Mr Fraser said: “This is a community-owned project set up with our partners Luss Estates and Greencat Renewables. With the community’s one third share in Helensburgh Community Wind Farm, the town can establish its own independent source of income to spend in the local area on projects important to local people.

“We believe it will be the start of something good for the town, and Helensburgh Renewables aims to fire the public’s imagination as to the possibilities of such an independent income stream.

“It can only happen with the support of the Helensburgh community, and so I urge local people to follow our progress in the next few weeks and also to keep an eye on their mailboxes for our survey leaflet.” Plans for the wind farm were first announced in January 2013 and concerns were soon raised about how the development - overlooking Helensburgh - would affect the character of the town and impact the vista of the near-by National Park.

Helensburgh Community Council, of which Ian Fraser is an elected member, has not formed an opinion on the plans and would first need to consult residents on their views.

In April of this year the Advertiser revealed that a Turbines Evaluation Group (TEG-H) had been set up to evaluate any planning applications for wind turbines in Helensburgh and Lomond.

The group of nine residents is neither for nor against wind farms, however members have pledged to investigate, gather information, and make a balanced assessment of the facts involved in a wind farm.

Helensburgh Community Windfarm was recently granted planning approval for a 50m high wind monitoring mast to be erected on land south of Tom na h-Airidh (2km north of Helensburgh) for a period of two years.The public will have the opportunity to comment on the plans when they are submitted to the council in the coming weeks.

In the north and east of Luss Estate’s land, a feasibility study is currently under way to develop a hydro-electricity project, which generates electrical power by exploiting the gravitational force of falling, or flowing, water.

The proposed project is expected to raise funds jointly for the Arrochar and Tarbet, and Luss and Arden communities.

The project is based on the Ant’ Srang Burn, above Arrochar, and has been initiated by the area’s Community Development Trusts with Luss Estates committed to provide land rights as well as practical support.

Simon Miller, Chief Executive of Luss Estates, said: “In recent years, landowners and communities across Scotland have begun exploring new ways of working together, and Luss Estates is no exception.

“Developments in renewables technologies are opening up opportunities for communities, particularly in rural Scotland, to provide long-term funding solutions for important local projects. By combining our land and management resources with the aspirations and drive of local development trusts, you have a potent combination.

“Both Helensburgh Community Wind Farm and the Ant’ Srang Hydro Scheme are projects initiated by, and for, local communities with the potential to deliver transformative returns.

“Luss Estates supports their aspirations, and looks forward to forging a new style of working relationship with development trusts, as we pursue our vision to protect, preserve and sustainably develop the land, villages and surrounding communities.”