PEOPLE in Helensburgh will get their first chance to have their say on plans to build 300 new homes in the town this week.

The project design team at housing developers Taylor Wimpey will host an initial public event online on Friday, February 26 from 2-4pm, offering people more information and the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposals.

A ‘proposal of application notice’ (PAN) has been submitted to Argyll and Bute Council for a newly modernised Helensburgh Golf Club and a residential development to the north of Machrie Drive/Kent Drive, on land at East Abercromby Street currently occupied by the golf club.

A formal planning application for the site is expected to follow later this year.

A follow-up consultation event will be held later in 2021, to allow the golf club and the developers an opportunity to present the design evolution and highlight any changes which have been made to the proposals to address any comments received at the first event.

READ MORE: More details revealed on plans for 300 new homes in Helensburgh

The land outlined for the proposed development includes plans to demolish the existing clubhouse and construct a new clubhouse with parking, reconfigure the existing golf course to make it more accessible for all and create a new par three, six-hole short course.

As part of the overall development, Taylor Wimpey is proposing to deliver around 300 new homes in a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes, of which 25 per cent will be affordable housing to be delivered by Dunbritton Housing Association.

The proposal also includes plans for new access arrangements, landscaping, an equipped play area and drainage.

John Laverty, president of Helensburgh Golf Club, said: “This is an extremely important stage in the process of finalising the design proposals for the proposed development.

“Our public consultation event will allow us to better understand the views of the local community, and we will review and consider all of the feedback and suggestions that we receive as we develop our proposals for this emerging development with a view to making an application to Argyll and Bute Council later this year.”

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Caroline Proctor, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, said: “Our online public consultation event is an important part of our community engagement strategy for any new development, because it allows us to discuss our development proposals for a local area with key stakeholders and members of the community.

“Friday’s event will give us the opportunity to understand and consider the views from as many stakeholders as possible as the project team develops the proposal for the land at Helensburgh Golf Club.

“Unfortunately, due to the ongoing health emergency, we are unable to hold our public consultation event in the traditional format, however I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the local community to engage with us online to share their views so that we may consider these as we develop our emerging development proposal.”

Plans can be viewed, updates obtained and feedback given at montagu-evans.co.uk/HGCdevelopment or at taylorwimpey.co.uk/helensburgh-golf-club.

A link to join the online consultation event will go live on the same two websites on Friday, February 26.

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