At a full council meeting last week, elected members agreed to submit a revised local development plan in the spring of 2015, stating their intent to adopt minimal recommendations contained within the Scottish Government reporter’s examination report, published in December.

The planned housing allocations locally include: Helensburgh Golf Club – 300; Helensburgh, Sawmill Field, Cardross Road – 145; Helensburgh, former Hermitage Academy site – 160; Cardross, Kirkton Farm – 158; Shandon, Blairvadach south – 64; Shandon, Blairvadach House north – 48; Ardencaple – 60; Garelochhead, Station Road – 24; and Garelochhead, Smithfield – eight.

Helensburgh councillor David Kinniburgh, the council’s policy lead for planning, said the LDP is ‘vital for economic growth’.

He added: “This is the culmination of five years of hard work from our statutory plans team. The council has talked a lot recently about the opportunities for our economy, to develop business and to grow our population, and this strategy clearly identifies the potential growth areas, showing that ours is indeed an area of huge development potential.” The LDP is the key document for development in Argyll and Bute over the next five years.

A developer is already in the process of marketing new housing at Sawmill Field and CALA held a public consultation at the Victoria Halls earlier this month.

Public can submit their opinions on the plans until February 3, before a planning application is lodged with the council in May. If approved work could begin in March of next year.

Plans for 146 houses at Geilston Farm Cardross were recommended for removal by the reporter following public objection, and this was supported by the council.

Allocation for ‘high density’ housing at Rhu Marina was modified to ‘non applicable’ meaning it could be used for both housing and amenities.

Jack Rudram, convenor, Rhu and Shandon Community Council, welcomed the reporter’s recommendations, adding: “Also, we are pleased that the LDP acknowledges that there should be no further extension of PDA 3/29 (Rhu Marina) and we note the reporter’s recommendation that any proposal for infilling of Rhu Bay must be based on a suitable case being made in a masterplan, which would be subject to public consultation.” Mr Rudram noted that although community councillors were pleased to see reduction in housing allocation from the proposed 60, to 48, to the land north and west of Blairvadach House, he said it was ‘disappointing’ the RSCC objections to 64 houses allocation for the land south of Blairvadach House – up from the original 28 – had not been altered.

Mr Rudram said: “Amongst the submissions made by RSCC on the subject of housing at Blairvadach were comments about the lack of demand for available housing allocations and the possible adverse impact on local facilities.” Helensburgh Community Council have welcomed the positive feedback to the LDP.

Nigel Millar, secretary of the Helensburgh Community Council and chair of strategy plans group, said that new housing was welcomed especially considering the population decline in Argyll and Bute over the past 10 or 15 years.

He added: “As far as Helensburgh is concerned, we support people and prosperity and it is hopeful that the population is going to increase by nine percent between now and 2020 so we support the Local Development Plans for increasing the number of housing.

“As well as this, there is a big shortage of affordable homes in Helensburgh so our main concerns now is what we have built in Helensburgh is affordable housing.

“We will not accept housing of any old standard that you can see anywhere in the UK either, and any run of the mill bog standard quality, we want good quality housing.”