A PLANNED development for a family pub and restaurant on the eastern edge of Helensburgh has been given the backing of the town’s community council.

Locally-based architect Malcolm Pearson is seeking planning permission for the facility, along with two three-storey office blocks, on a site next to the town’s former Waitrose supermarket.

A detailed planning application is expected to follow if Argyll and Bute Council agrees to the principle of the proposed development.

Nigel Millar, who deals with planning matters for Helensburgh Community Council (HCC), also gave details of how the plans will be examined. He said: “Whether the demand exists for the projected 400-800 jobs is a matter for the developer, Malcolm Pearson.

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“But HCC does see the logic of the proposed new pub and restaurant. At present the nearest pub in Helensburgh to this development is the Argyll Bar opposite the new Civic Centre, about a mile away.

“Yet in recent years around 100 new homes have been built on the old Academy site and 123 homes and 20 flats are soon to be built by Bellway on the Sawmill Field site immediately opposite this development.

“As this this application is seen as a ‘major development’ by Argyll and Bute Council HCC’s assessment will be carried out by its own unique Architecture and Design Helensburgh group, made up of qualified architects, planners and community councillors.

“Their assessment will be two-fold. Firstly, using’s HCC’s tested Helensburgh Design Statement, are the proposed building designs distinctive, interesting and worthy of their gateway position at the eastern entrance to the town?

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“And using the recognised Place Standard Tool, will the development sit comfortably on the site and do justice to its surrounding area?

“Architecture and Design Helensburgh uses this dual approach in all its assessments - the latest of which was on the Bellway application.

"This achieved major design improvements to the proposed 20 flats as they too will occupy a gateway position at the entrance to Helensburgh.

“Architecture and Design Helensburgh will be approaching Malcolm Pearson and his consultant to go over their approach with the hope that this new development, when built, will be one the town can be proud of and add to Helensburgh’s famous widely recognised design legacy.”

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