£30m marina scheme unveiled

Sharon Thompson 1562 - 1562 • Published 5 Oct 2006 10:48

PLANS are afoot for £30 million development in Rosneath.

Businessman Jim Henry has lodged a planning application with Argyll and Bute Council in a bid to secure the green light to redevelop the waterfront Camsail site.

The former Henry Brothers yard is the subject of the application which - if approved by councillors - will become the venue for an ambitious project comprising a marina, 173 homes, 128 apartments and 45 townhouses.

Commercial units including shops, restaurants and workshop space also form an integral part of the plan, which has been submitted by Northern Ireland-based planners GM Design Associates.

Bill Gamble, who is handling the venture from Londonderry, said that the project will be sympathetic to the area.

He commented: 'It"s going to be in keeping with the area.

`It"s within the development limitations of the village and the buildings that are beside it are extremely large buildings.

'It has the potential to be a very beautiful area but at the moment it"s very rundown.

`We want to take advantage of the potential there. There"s potential for shops, restaurants and homes along with the workspaces all hinged around the marina.

'There are already local shops in Rosneath and we would like to give priority to them.'

He added: 'There will be a significant number of construction jobs provided through this development and also future employment opportunities within the site.

'We foresee people working there and living there and perhaps it being a base for them to commute to their offices in Glasgow.'

The firm's plans, however, have received a lukewarm reception.

Robert McIntyre, Chairman of Rosneath and Clynder Community Council, said that the organisation had requested further information before they submit a response to the blueprint.

But Mr McIntyre told the Advertiser: 'We want to see what scope there are for community facilities.

`In the past there have been houses built in the village without any sort of consideration for amenities and the we have suffered for that.

'We want to see if the community will benefit from this and what sort of facilities like a community centre could be in place because that is something we badly need.

`We would be interested to see if the community aspect can be developed.'

There has been speculation over the future of the site since Henry Bros gained council approval in 2002 to vacate the site and move to their current base near Colgrain.

At the time, the company indicated that they intended to develop the Camsail site.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 05 Oct 06

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