Wednesday, July 26, 2006
A new heart for Stenhousemuir
Falkirk Council approves multi-million pound town centre regeneration plan
Stenhousemuir is to have a new 40,000 sq.ft Asda foodstore, shops and a library following today’s (July 26) decision by Falkirk Council Regulatory Committee to grant detailed planning approval to developers MacDonald Estates plc.
The multi-million pound proposals for regenerating Stenhousemuir town centre also include sport and leisure facilities, a town square, substantial car parking, a new road and improvements to the adjoining Crownest Park.
MacDonald’s application covers a 6.48 hectare site and includes:
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a 40,000 sq.ft. foodstore with 360 parking spaces
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more than 34,000 sq.ft of retail space in three single-storey blocks
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a new library with “wave” shaped roof overlooking Crownest Park
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landscaped civic spaces
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a new access road off the B905 (King Street)
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a new football pitch and changing rooms
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improvements to Crownest Park
The Committee approved the plan subject to a number of conditions on environmental issues, roads and footpaths, transport, servicing for the shops and other matters.
Councillor David Bryson, Falkirk Council’s Convener of Economic Development welcomed the Committee decision: “Stenhousemuir and Larbert is one of the fastest-growing communities in Scotland and has a major role to play in bringing prosperity to our area through the My Future’s in Falkirk partnership initiative. As well as hundreds of new homes we will also have the new acute services hospital for the Forth Valley within a few years. It is right that we should have a modern shopping centre that can meet the needs of our community now and in coming decades.”
Councillor Bryson continued:” When we embarked on our regeneration plan for Stenhousemuir, Falkirk Council chose MacDonald Estates plc as our developer. I believe their proposals will bring about tremendous change for the better and give Stenhousemuir a town centre that is fit for the future.”
Niall McLean, Development Manager for MacDonald Estates plc said: “We are delighted to see our plans for Stenhousemuir town centre coming to fruition. In addition to securing the anchor tenant, we have substantially let the retail accommodation and pulled together an extremely complicated site assembly exercise. We can now start to make a change for the beter in Stenhousemuir. Construction is due to start later this year and it is anticipated that the project will be completed within two years.”
Stenhousemuir and “My Future’s in Falkirk”: The regeneration plans for Stenhousemuir town centre have a major role to play in the success of the My Future’s in Falkirk initiative, which aims to transform the Falkirk area's economy over the next 10 years into a thriving, diverse modern economy that attracts businesses and visitors into the area and provides jobs for local people. My Future’s In Falkirk projects fall into four key themes; developing new technologies, creating capacity for business growth, exploiting physical and digital connections to the world and living, working and visiting Falkirk. The £23m initiative (originally called the Falkirk Action Plan) was launched in December 2002 by a partnership of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, BP and Falkirk Council with support from the European Regional Development Fund. For more information visit www.myfuturesinfalkirk.co.uk|.
For more information:
Barbara Suttar
Press Office
Tel: 01324 506057
email: barbara.suttar@falkirk.gov.uk|
Niall McLean
Development Manager
Macdonald Estates plc
Tel: 0131 225 3232