HOUSE builder Taylor Wimpey has been urged not to repeat the “run of the mill” home designs used elsewhere in Helensburgh in its plans for a major new development in the town.

Outline plans for around 300 new homes on part of Helensburgh Golf Club’s course in the town are expected to be published in the next few days.

Taylor Wimpey announced last week that it had submitted a ‘proposal of application notice’ (PAN) to Argyll and Bute Council for a development of two, three, four and five bedroom detached properties on the site.

The proposals also include demolishing the golf club’s existing clubhouse and building a new one in its place, reconfiguring the golf course, and creating a new six-hole short course.

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The company and the golf club have also announced plans for two online public consultation events in the next few weeks, prior to lodging a full planning application later this year.

Taylor Wimpey – which is also responsible for the Hermitage Grange development on the site of the former Hermitage Academy in Colgrain – says it will soon begin talks with Helensburgh Community Council (HCC), and with the town’s building design group, Architecture and Design Helensburgh (ADH).

Nigel Millar, who is a member on both HCC and ADH, told the Advertiser: “Taylor Wimpey’s homes at the old Academy site were very ordinary, run of the mill designs.

“This new development will be in a prominent hillside location. There aren’t many views from Helensburgh better than the one from the golf club’s current clubhouse, so we will fight against any standardised brochure-type designs being put forward.

“This will be a big development, not just a new housing estate, so we want it to be designed in a way that helps create a community spirit and feel, with safe spaces for children, lots of pedestrian access, and open space that creates a focal point for the community.”

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The golf club proposals follow the granting of permission for new homes at the former Dobbies garden centre site off Rhu Road Higher and at Sawmill Field on the eastern edge of the town, as well as Hermitage Grange.

Mr Millar added: “We will also raise the issue of whether the town’s infrastructure – schools and health services as well as roads and so on – can cope with what is a pretty sizeable addition to the town.

“If planning permission for the golf club site is granted that will see about 660 new homes for around 2,000 people in Helensburgh in the space of ten years or so.”

Taylor Wimpey’s first online consultation event will take place on February 26. A second event, on March 26, will see the firm “explain how they have addressed any comments they received as part of the first consultation”.

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Helensburgh Golf Club members gave their blessing to the principle of a Taylor Wimpey development on part of the course in 2016.

The site is zoned for hosuing in both the current and proposed local development plans.

President John Laverty said: “We have been working closely with the team at Taylor Wimpey for quite some time on these proposals.

"They provide a number of significant benefits to the local community, most notably giving Helensburgh Golf Club the opportunity to upgrade and create first class facilities that will address the future of the game of golf, while at the same time being able to assist with the provision of much needed affordable and family housing to meet the needs of our local community.”

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