PLANS for fences and tree planting around a historic listed building near Helensburgh have been lodged with council officials – even though the work has already been carried out.

An application for retrospective ‘listed building consent’ has been submitted to Argyll and Bute Council for the grounds of Blairvadach House in Shandon.

The B-listed property – formerly used and owned by the local authority itself – was sold to local developer Callum Williamson Ltd in November 2021, and has since been converted into eight flats and duplex units.

Fences were put up around the building, and planting undertaken, between April and September.

The application form, submitted on behalf of Mr Williamson by Helensburgh-based Lawrence Hill Architecture and Design, states that the “applicant didn’t realise he required listed building consent for fences” until being advised as such by a council official.

In addition to the conversion of Blairvadach House itself, Callum Williamson Ltd lodged plans in November last year to build 34 new homes in the grounds.

Those plans were approved by the local authority in August despite five objections from members of the public.

Blairvadach House was vacated by the council in 2015, when the staff who were based there moved in to the new Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre.

The new homes in the grounds will comprise four detached homes, 22 three-bedroom semi-detached units and eight two-bedroom flats in two blocks of four.
Mr Williamson bought the house and grounds from the council after the authority’s original ‘preferred bidder’ withdrew their interest, citing the impact of the Covid pandemic.

The site as a whole is zoned for 112 residential units in the council’s local development plan.