PLANS have been submitted for a new boat repair shed at DRB Marine’s yard in Rosneath.

The company has lodged a planning application with Argyll and Bute Council for permission to build the facility, which would allow for repairs to boating equipment to be carried out in dry conditions.

A design and access statement by The Hay Partnership says that the building would have to be big enough to accommodate a hoist, which enables boats to be taken out of the water.

It also says that a phone call to the authority’s Helensburgh-based planning officers had indicated “support in principle” for the planned investment.

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A decision from the council’s planning officers is expected by early April, with the plans now available to be commented on by the public.

The Hay Partnership’s statement says: “The application site is a long-established boatyard plus jetty on the periphery of the village of Rosneath with ready access to the Gare Loch/Clyde Estuary and beyond.

“In light of agreeing another contract with the MoD for the repair and servicing of some of their boats, a bespoke building is required in order to meet the criteria for the contract.

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“As the boats are taken out of the water by a mobile hoist, the new building has to be sized to accommodate this and the boat.

“Its proposed location needs to be a short and level travel distance from the slipway at the north-eastern corner of the premises with scope for the travel hoist to manoeuvre safely.

“It is therefore proposed to site the new building behind and to the north-west of the office building on a level area of ground presently used for winter boat storage.”

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It also said that the report “follows on from a recent telephone enquiry to the planning section in Helensburgh which confirmed the need for planning permission, but which also suggested support in principle for the proposed new investment”.

There are no new service connections required for the proposed works, and electricity supplies are intended to be taken from nearby offices.

The report added: “Overall it is believed that the proposed works will meet the applicant’s aims and requirements while being appropriate and in accordance with local plan aims.

“It is therefore hoped that after assessment Argyll and Bute Council will be willing to lend their support to the application and will be prepared to grant planning permission." READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news from around Helensburgh and Lomond here