THE long-term future of Hermitage Primary School’s former annexe site remains unclear after council officers said it would currently be “premature” to dispose of school assets.
The site at the Helensburgh school featured in a list of possible sites for disposal by the authority as part of its budgeting pack for the 2026/27 financial year.
But a report to go before local councillors next week has said that two strategic reviews will have a say in what happens going forward.
The Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework includes plans for up to 4,000 new homes across Helensburgh and Lomond over the next 40 years.
And Argyll and Bute Council’s education department have confirmed that the learning estate strategy will be updated later this year for publication in early 2027.
The document will go before the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
Several members of the area committee have already voiced their opposition to the annexe site being used for housing.
Executive director Douglas Hendry said: “Officers are aware that community feedback has raised questions including concerns raised by the local ‘Parents for Active Learning’ (PAL) group.
“Officers are also aware of the ‘Vision for Helensburgh Local Place Plan’. The annexe site was previously the old Victorian Hermitage Primary building (demolished after a fire in 2022). It currently sits unused and fenced off.
“Parents (the PAL group) argue that the school lacks adequate outdoor space and that the Annex area is essential for outdoor learning, sports, and play.
“The plan acknowledges the council’s estates team have classified the land as surplus to school requirements and may consider it for emergency and supported housing unless community use is secured.
“PAL has submitted an ‘asset transfer expression of interest’ (March 2025) to acquire or manage the site for community and school use.
“The proposal recommends redesignating it from housing back to community use, taking ownership, and developing a multi-use sports and learning area.”
Mr Hendry then said: “The ‘Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework’ (HSDF) when prepared, will outline the development of a long‑term planning strategy aligned with LDP2 (Local Development Plan 2) and subsequent LDPs, to guide future growth, infrastructure, and land use around Helensburgh and Cardross.
“It will draw on technical studies, greenbelt assessments, and projected population increases — including impacts from Faslane — to shape where housing and infrastructure should be located over the next 20–40 years.
“Planning for up to 4,000 new homes within the Helensburgh and Lomond area over the next 40 years. This will have a material impact on community infrastructure including schools.
“The likely impact and detail of this expansion on educational infrastructure is currently being investigated, and this should be clearer later in 2026.
“The council’s education department have also confirmed that their ‘learning estate strategy will be updated later this year and published early 2027. This strategy will look at the impact on the education estate and any future housing expansion within the area.
“Officers from commercial services, education and development and economic growth agreed that it would be premature to dispose of or repurpose Helensburgh school assets at this time until the wider reviews flowing from the Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework and ‘learning estate strategy’ are completed.
“At this time there are no plans to dispose of school estate assets in Helensburgh in the short term until the outcome from these strategic reviews is known.”
