Helensburgh

Helensburgh is Argyll’s largest town, excellently located in a wonderful setting on the Clyde Coast. Within easy reach of the conurbation of Glasgow and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the town already functions as major centre for tourist activities such as golf, cycling, walking and sailing. Helensburgh also boasts two outstanding conservation areas and numerous Listed Buildings including designs by world renowned architects such as Charles Rennie MacIntosh and Alexander “Greek” Thomson. Hill House is currently under consideration for inclusion as a world heritage site, and a comprehensive masterplan has been finalised to bring forward the redevelopment of the underused Pier.

Through the CHORD programme, our plans were to enhance and rejuvenate the historic Town Centre and to redevelop the West Bay Esplanade. The Town Centre is currently congested by traffic and parking, and the Esplanade is in need of regeneration. It is hoped that by implementing the CHORD programme the town will become a better place in which to shop, gather and relax, and encourage people to use the many, independent and national businesses in the area.

The Helensburgh CHORD Projects

The CHORD projects in Helensburgh are split into two parts - the Redevelopment of the West Bay Esplanade and Transforming the Town Centre (Traffic Management and Streetscape Improvements). 

Redevelopment of the West Bay Esplanade

Background and what we plan to do

The projects aims to redevelop the West Bay Esplanade between Colquhoun Square and William Street, linking it to the town centre to create an environment suitable for leisure strolling with a string of “event points” along the shore and for much better access by customers to the many and varied local shops, restaurants, cafes and bars on West Clyde Street.

The Esplanade will be redesigned by urban designers in consultation with the community to provide a more exciting experience and to replace some of the inadequate materials which past “mend-and-make-do” developments have imposed. The proposals will look to provide a range of facilities for example a covered events/ performance place, a children’s play area, landscaped gardens and an informal grassed area.

Transforming the Town Centre - Traffic Management and Streetscape Improvements

Background and what we plan to do

We plan to develop a more sustainable traffic management scheme in the Town Centre by reducing traffic through the main streets in the town centre, thus enhancing pedestrian movement, creating events space and a street-cafe culture. At present traffic dominates the town centre. The proposals will also incorporate appropriate parking management regulations to support the regeneration of the town centre, which will also include additional dedicated disabled parking spaces, as well as improved cycling facilities.

The project aims to:

• Carry out road narrowing and widening of adjoining pavements,
• Creation of shared surface areas through the use of materials, positioning of street furniture, etc.,
• Creation of new events spaces,
• Installing new street furniture,
• Changing the traffic flow in the town centre,
• Creating new parking bays,
• Introducing public art and the use of water to animate the town.

Project Plans

To give you an idea of how things will look when the project is completed, we have a couple of fantastic ways for you to do this:

Flythough video - this short video has been put together to give you a visual idea of how the proposals will look when complete - come on a journey into the future with us to see how it will look

Design Statement - this page gives you information on the different ways in which the proposals will change the town centre - such as the increased seating, bins, plants, and improved views

You can also see the proposals for Colquhoun Square and the Esplanade in 3D -

• Helensburgh CHORD Artworks Report October 2013
• Colquhoun Square - revised layout showing how it could be used for events
• Colquhoun Square -  updated following referendum result
• Esplanade - looking West
• Esplanade - looking East
• Helensburgh CHORD plan
• Helensburgh - Colquhoun Square plan