Falkirk plan is moving on.
Byline: John McEachranMiddlefield project to bring town new prosperity on the back of a wheel of fortune, writes JOHN McEACHRAN
PLANS for a multi- million pound project which will provide hundreds of jobs and transform the centre of Falkirk have been lodged with the council.
The masterplan covers more than 75 acres and has been developed to complement the Millennium Project, the re- opening of the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals.
Guy Wedderburn of Callendar Estate, who own most of the earmarked area, said: "These developments will be a tremendous boost for Falkirk in terms of amenity, facilities and jobs.
"They will provide valuable assets for the local community and greatly improved gateways to the town from the east and west."
The Falkirk Gateway Project covers 74.4 acres in Middlefield, to the east of the town and the planning application provides for a mix of leisure, business, industrial and non-food retail use, along with car parking, infrastructure, wetland areas and landscaping.
The retail element has been limited to a maximum of 107,000 square feet.
One section of the site has been excluded from the plans - an area known as Westfield which has been set aside for a new stadium for Falkirk Football Club to replace their existing town centre home.
Outline planning consent for the new stadium has already been approved.
The rest of the Falkirk Gateway Project application covers two acres at Wester Carmuirs, adjacent to the giant Millennium Wheel.
The wheel is being built by British Waterways to provide a link for craft between the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals as part of the Millennium Link.
The plans for Wester Carmuirs include the provision of a travel lodge and roadside services to complement a park- and-ride scheme and form a suitable entrance to the Millennium Link site on the canal.
PROPERTY agents Jones Lang Lasalle have submitted plans to the council on behalf of Callendar Estate.
Ian Carruth, of Jones Lang Lasalle, said: "We will be actively seeking developers for the mix of uses on the sites.
"We have already had an interest for an initial seven acres between Etna Road and the Forth and Clyde Canal at Middlefield, which offers the potential for creating up to 200 jobs when fully developed.
"We hope to progress this element quickly once the overall application has been approved."
The planning application to Falkirk Council, which should be considered in the next few months, also includes a traffic impact analysis and landscape assessment.
Step in right direction
CALLENDAR Estate and Jones Lang Lasalle have been working on the Falkirk Gateway Project for several years now.
Together they have produced the plans after intensive discussions with Falkirk Council.
Guy Wedderburn said: "We are very hopeful that there will be no planning hitches.
"The plan reflects the direction for the area as defined in Falkirk Council's Structure Plan and the Falkirk Local Plan.
"Modifications to the Structure Plan are expected to be published by the Scottish Executive any day now and our proposals should fit in with that."
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Sep 10, 2001 |
| Words: | 510 |
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