Companies were invited to submit tenders to deliver the £18 million project by June 7 with the council receiving responses from “a number of potential bidders”. But it has now issued a statement saying the process would have to be relaunched.

The statement said: “Complex projects like the waterfront development must follow strict procurement processes and in this instance the council has identified that an inadvertent technical breach occurred in the initial response it received to the tender.

“Therefore the council will re-launch the tender process.

“As well as ensuring legal compliance, this next tender will include the option of using Helensburgh pier to deliver the new leisure centre and swimming pool development effectively.”

The nature of the glitch, along with the possible implications of the decision on the project’s budget and timeline, has not yet been made public.

“As well as ensuring legal compliance, this next tender will include the option of using Helensburgh pier to deliver the new leisure centre and swimming pool development effectively,” the council added.

Construction will now be “temporarily paused” which has opened the door for the neglected pier to “play a key part” since any contractor eventually appointed “will, if required, have access to the pier for project-related uses such as receiving supplies”.

The re-tender process will also allow the council to focus resources on putting into action the £85,000 investment agreed for Helensburgh’s pier last month.

The pier is one of the projects across Argyll and Bute that will benefit from an allocation of £1.2 million from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund. The council agreed that £85,000 should be invested in pedestrian access enhancements at the pier.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, policy lead for strategic finance and capital regeneration programme, said: “The old chestnut, that no good deed goes unpunished, seems to perfectly illustrate this situation. The procurement rules are complex and strict to ensure a fair process for all. Having taken legal advice, the lowest risk approach is to re-set the tender process and start again. Not ideal, but better than a challenge later.

“On a positive note, council officers will be able to focus on developing details of the £85,000 investment in the pier. We know this matters to local people and look forward to work beginning on it.”