An agreement that will see 400 houses, shops and businesses being built on derelict land near the village of Whitecross is now extremely close to being finalised after years of deadlock.
CWC Group’s plans to develop the former Manuel Brickworks site were agreed by Falkirk Council’s planning committee in April last year – on the condition that the developers agree to several contributions that will improve local facilities.
The company has promised funding for Whitecross Primary and Graeme High School and will also contribute to upgrading the nearby junction of the M9 at the Lathallan roundabout.
The agreement is also expected to cover a diversion of the existing local bus service into the site and building affordable housing on the site.
The planning permission was given on condition that any agreement should be signed within six months, but councillors were told that the scale and complexity of the agreement meant this had not been possible.
In particular, more discussion is needed with NHS Forth Valley as its response had only been received on January 25.
However, planning officers said they “good progress has been made” and a draft of the planning obligation agreement is now nearly finished.
The planning permission is for a mixed development comprising approximately 400 dwellings, local retail and community facilities, and approximately 29,000m square of commercial uses, mainly storage and distribution.
Pointing out that previous planning applications for the area had stalled completely due to agreements on transport and infrastructure not being agreed, Provost Billy Buchanan said he was delighted to see this so close to being finalised.
