HELENSBURGH and Lomond is the only part of Argyll and Bute attracting major interest from mainstream housing developers, a council official has said.
A report had previously revealed that more than 800 new homes had been awarded planning permission between the authority declaring a housing emergency in June 2023, and February 2025.
However, a councillor sought information on what was being done to attract mainstream housing builders to the area.
Matt Mulderrig, the council’s development policy and housing manager, responded that interest was “quite limited” in the area other than in Helensburgh and Lomond, but some sites were being worked on.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee on Thursday, June 19.
Councillor William Sinclair (Liberal Democrat, Cowal) asked: “What work are we doing to encourage a mainstream builder? It is one of the things we always struggle with.
“We can design the infrastructure and give planning permission, but we need to be working with mainstream builders to encourage them to come to our area.”
Mr Mulderrig said: “It is a good question but not a straightforward answer. The Helensburgh and Lomond area is quite different in terms of mainstream builders as we get a good level of interest from that type of developer.
“There are sites we are working with them to bring forward and the key aim of the Helensburgh strategic development framework is to identify long term land opportunities, which will allow us to capitalise on demand.
“In the rest of Argyll, it is quite limited. There have been almost no speculative housing developments other than individual sites.
“We have done work to the point where we are able to say we feel there is market failure. We will work through the rural growth deal.
“There are a small number of sites where private developers have secured consent, but have not yet started work.”
Meanwhile, debate also took place among councillors on the news that 860 residential units had received planning permission from the council in the period specified.
Councillor Luna Martin (Green, Oban North and Lorn) said: “I read an article in the local press. The comments were really positive and I wanted to relay this.
“We do have a long way to go, but I really welcome this much development through planning and the public will be really glad to see this as well.”
However, Councillor Andrew Kain (Independent, Oban South and the Isles) responded: “I cannot be as complimentary as Councillor Martin, particularly on islands.
“A government report says that the availability of new housing is a major factor in holding young couples on the islands. That report was written in 1974 and nothing has changed.
“From talking to local builders, there are solutions. It is a compromise between what is required by planning in rural and island areas, and more co-operation between council and independent builders on islands.”
Mr Mulderrig said: “I do not disagree. You know there are two sizeable local builders who do a lot of work on the islands.
“But it is about providing affordable housing. We are doing everything we can to encourage others and are working with the Scottish Government to secure investment in housing infrastructure.
“If we see that funding secured towards the end of the year, that will resolve some of the issues.”
