A 50-year plan to build almost 700 homes and extend a West Lothian village looks more possible than ever.
The site in Westfield has been allocated for development in West Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan for nearly 20 years and a local councillor says it was first proposed in the 1970s.
Subsequent permission was granted for full planning consent in 2010 for 550 houses and the site was acquired by Alba Developments in 2019.
The developers say they are currently looking for a venture partner for the project and are excited to be moving closer to expanding the village.
Shane Ticklepenny, managing director of Alba Group, said: “These homes have been promised to the local community for a number of years now and Alba Developments will finally bring the site to life.
“The homes will bring an economic boost and new amenities, attracting families to the area and leading to upgrades to the local school and bus links to improve the connectivity with neighbouring towns.”
The Courier reported last week that Alba Developments have applied for planning permission to West Lothian Council.
The developers are also planning a new local centre, landscaped river corridor, active travel routes, distributor road, new bridge, secondary access roads, car parking, open space, play facilities, landscaping, and other associated infrastructure.
The first phase, Phase A, to the west of the site compromises 217 homes across 5 phases and has recently been redesigned and approved by West Lothian Council to meet current market demand.
This is on the back of the new approved access consented in April 2020.
Alba Developments has also submitted plans for proposed changes to the layout for Phase B which would increase the development to a total of 659 units.
Savills & Scarlett Land and Development have been appointed to market the scheme.
Will Scarlett of Scarlett Land and Development said: “Westfield presents a significant place-making opportunity of scale. Located within the catchment of Linlithgow Academy, and surrounded by fabulous amenity (913-acre Beecraigs Country Park) we firmly believe that homes at Westfield will have strong appeal to families.”
Savills Ben Brough added: “West Lothian has one of the fastest growing populations in Scotland, its popularity being driven by some successful large-scale developments and its easy commutability to the city of Edinburgh. The site at Westfield will create a new expansion to the existing village with attractive, quality family homes and beautiful open space along the river. It will also benefit from excellent schooling within Linlithgow.”
Local councillor Stuart Borrowman told The Courier earlier this month that the expansion has been spoken of since the 1970s but said it is “a potentially very attractive site for new residents to come, or for locals to stay.”
