Contents
INTRODUCTION
Background
The Local Plan Process
Local Plans in Dumbarton District
The Plan Area
Plan Period
How Changing Circumstances will Affect the Plan
Relationship of Written Statement to Proposals Map
GENERAL TOPICS
POPULATION AND HOUSING
Background
Issues
Policies
Recommendation
Justification
EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY
Background
Issues
Policies
Recommendations
Justification
TRANSPORTATION
Background
Issues
Policies
Recommendations
Justification
Public Transport
Transport - Roads and Parking
Proposals
SHOPPING AND COMMERCE
Background
Issues
Policies
Justification
LEISURE, RECREATION AND TOURISM
Background
Recreation Areas and Open Space
Indoor Recreation Facilities
Tourism
Footpaths, Rights of Way and Access Agreements
Marina Developments
Equestrian Facilities
ENVIRONMENT
Background
Conservation Areas
Listed Buildings
Ancient Monuments and Sites of Archaeological Significance
Tree Preservation, Woodland and Countryside Management
Nature conservation
Derelict/Vacant Land and Buildings
Mineral Workings
The Rural Area
Village Envelopes
"Greenbelt"
"Countryside Around Towns"
"Remoter Rural Area"
The Loch Lomond Area
The Loch Long Regional Scenic Coast
Control of Advertisements
Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances
PUBLIC SERVICES AND EDUCATION
Introduction
Education, Health, Social and Community Services
Public Utility Services
MILITARY LAND REQUIREMENTS
The Expansion of the Clyde Submarine Base at Faslane and Coulport to House the Trident Nuclear Weapons System
Background
Summary of Proposals
Recommendations
Justification
SETTLEMENTS
HELENSBURGH AND CRAIGENDORAN
Population and Housing
Employment and Industry
Transportation
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Recreation Areas and Open Space
Indoor Recreation Facilities
Tourism
Footpaths
Environment
Conservation Area and Interim Policy Statement of Upper Helensburgh
Derelict/Vacant Land and Buildings
Education, Health, Social and Community Facilities
Proposals
RHU AND SHANDON
Population and Housing
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Education, Health, social and Community Facilities
Public Utility Services
Proposals
GARELOCHHEAD
Population and Housing
Employment and Industry
Transportation
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Tree Preservation
Derelict/Vacant Land and Buildings
Public Services and Education
Proposals
CLYNDER AND ROSNEATH
Population and Housing
Employment and Industry
Transportation
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Public Services and Education
Proposals
COVE AND KILCREGGAN AND PORTKIL
Population and Housing
Employment and Industry
Transportation
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Public Services and Education
Proposals
PORTINCAPLE
Population and Housing
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Public Services and Education
Proposals
NOTE ON LOCH LOMOND COMMUNITIES
ARROCHAR AND TARBET
Background
Population and Housing
Employment and Industry
Transportation
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
LUSS
Background
Population and Housing
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Proposals
GARTOCHARN
Background
Population and Housing
Shopping and Commerce
Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
Environment
Proposals
IMPLEMENTATION
APPENDICES
Conservation Areas
Buildings of Special Architectural and/or Historic Interest
Article 4 Directions
Archaeological Sites and Monuments and Natural History Features
Tree Preservation Orders
Loch Lomond Plan Policies
Vacant/Derelict Land and Buildings
FIGURES
Local Plan Preparation Process
DIAGRAMS
Colquhoun Square - Proposed Pedestrianisation
MAPS
Dumbarton District Regional Context
Dumbarton District Local Plan Coverage
Planning Consultation Zones of Notified Installations
Helensburgh Central Area - Shop Frontage Policy
SCHEDULES
Housing Land Availability by Area and Tenure
Public and Private Sheltered Housing Sites
Potential Housing Sites with a Capacity of 2 or More Dwellings
Shopping Provision in Helensburgh & Regional Shopping Centre Hierarchy
PROPOSALS MAPS
Summary
Population and Housing
It is estimated that the population of the plan area will rise slightly from the 1988 figure of 26,231, but it is expected that there will be a proportionately greater increase in the number of households. The District Council has endeavoured to provide sufficient housing land to cater for the private housing need and has allowed for a supply in excess of that required for the 5 year plan period. It is considered that priority should be given to the development of infill sites in preference to "greenfield" sites. The council will, however, keep under review the availability of sites in relation to demand within the Plan Area. The public sector housing need is unable to be identified and due to financial restraints the District Council is only able to maximise the existing resources including modernisation or encouraging joint venture schemes. With sheltered housing the Council will encourage housing associations to meet the need and try to establish community alarm systems. In the private sector limited support would be given for sheltered housing and special consideration would be made of conversion of established properties to special needs accommodation. The Development Control criteria for new housing developments are set out including open space standards and maintenance, design, phasing, retention of site features, road design and housing densities. Special consideration is given to the sub-division of buildings and feus due to the high proportion of residential development of this type in the Plan Area.
Employment and Industry
The unemployment level in Local Plan 2 is lower than the district as a whole, but is still sufficient to cause concern. It is the District Council's aim, therefore, to foster the economic well being of the Local Plan area in a manner which will not adversely effect the environmental character of the area. It was concluded after studying the small amount of industrial land in the Plan Area that a limited amount of new industrial units are required in Helensburgh, Garelochhead and Arrochar. such industrial units may allow workshops conveniently located in residential areas to be relocated, however, the extention of existing workshops is also discussed. Industrial grants form an important aspect of industrial generation and regeneration, therefore the Council supports PRIDE, the SDA grant scheme for rural areas which covers the northern and western parts of the Plan Area
Transport
Planning, provision and maintenance of roads is the responsibility of SDD for trunk road and SRC for other classified or adopted roads. The subsidy of public transport for social needs is carried out by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. The Local Plan does give the District Council formal opportunity to support or otherwise Regional Council policy and put forward proposals in order to elicit the Regions support. The main issue is uncoordinated and infrequent public transport services, particularly in rural areas and the District Council supports the Regional proposals to improve or sustain rural services and suggests alternative shared transport facilities be considered for rural areas, as well as the interlinking of services. It is recommended that consultations take place with all authorities involved in new road schemes, however, the District Council does not support the Regional policy of introducing parking charges to Region owned car parks. There are specific policies and recommendations for Helensburgh including the pedestrianisation of Colquhoun Square and the surfacing of car parks.
Shopping
A Local Plan is limited in the extent to which policies may influence and control shopping provision but an attempt has been made to adopt policies which retain retail facilities in rural areas and central Helensburgh. Policies have been adopted to protect shops in rural areas and to monitor the effect on rural shops of the Gateway supermarket in Helensburgh. The problem of vacant shops premises is considered with policies suggesting alternative uses, retail market gardens outwith towns are subject to policies resisting such development but separate consideration is given to mainly agricultural market gardens, the main shopping town of Helensburgh has specific policies defining the commercial area with a policy within the central area regarding additional conversion to non-retail uses on the ground floor. In addition, there is a policy supporting the provision of an indoor market and a specific advertisement/shopfront design policy for Helensburgh. Helensburgh is a third tier centre in the Regional Structure Plan Shopping hierarchy and its catchment area is considered sufficient to support an additional 2000 sq. m supermarket.
Recreation and Tourism
Recreational provision within the Plan Area is closely linked with tourist facilities given that Loch Lomond is one of the major tourist attractions in Scotland. Local Plan 2 therefore integrates the Loch Lomond Plan policies for recreation and tourism serving most of the north east of the Plan Area. The provision of outdoor facilities will be aimed at areas of greatest deficiency. The policies on indoor facilities aim to improve those existing whilst endeavouring to encourage the development of indoor centres up to national standards. The Tourism policies attempt to improve the tourist industry in the Plan Area to make better use of the resources available. Leisure pastimes/sports popular in the Plan Area are included with policies relating to rights of way and access to the countryside, provision and improvement of marina type and equestrian facilities. The improvement of vacant and woodland areas in Gareloch head and Rosneath aims to extend the recreational open space in these villages.
Environment
The Plan Area has a generally good environment worthy of conservation with parts of the Area recognised at National and Regional level. District Council Policies regarding methods to protect the environment are set out for Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, Ancient Monuments, Tree Preservation Orders and Nature Conservation Interests. Conservation Area policies include revision of area boundaries, development control requirements and the designation of a large area of Helensburgh as an new Conservation Area. There are pockets of poor environment, therefore policies for the improvement of derelict/vacant sites, abandoned development and land acquired for development are included. There is a presumption against new mineral workings and extention to existing ones would be subject to reinstatement conditions. The Plan Area outwith Helensburgh is divided into different Policy Areas for development control purposes with appropriate policies: "Village Envelopes" defining the extent development is considered acceptable; Greenbelt around Helensburgh and Rhu with a presumption against development; 'Countryside Around Town' and 'Remoter Rural Area' with a policy restricting development to specified countryside or recreation/ tourism uses. Local Plan 2 adopts Loch Lomond Local Plan policies for that area which strictly restricts the types of development considered acceptable. The Loch Long Scenic Coast is also protected, whilst the Plan Area outwith Helensburgh is within an Area of Special Control of Advertisements.
Community and Public Utility Services
Education, Health, Social and Community facilities are covered by a policy to retain such uses as there are no significant problems with much of the provision. Nursery school provision is, however, considered inadequate and it is recommended that sufficient funds be provided for the Regional Council to rectify this situation. Public Utility Services Issues are mainly dealt with by recommendations to the Region on the inadequacy of the sewerage facilities in certain villages.
Military Land
The Plan summarises the proposed development of the Faslane and Coulport Clyde Submarine Bases to house the Trident Nuclear Weapons System. Recommendations are made to the Ministry of Defence mainly on the environmental and safety aspects of the development as the District Council as local planning authority has no planning control over the base development.