Plans to create a new town centre for Denny town centre are making real progress, today's meeting of the Economic Strategy and Development Committee heard today.
Falkirk Council and its partners Henry Boot Developments plc have signed the development agreement for the £13 million project and an outline planning application has been submitted.
Denny residents, businesses and local groups approved the revised masterplan following an extensive consultation exercise last year which showed the community's key priority was to see the 1960s-built Church Walk blocks removed and the development of a vibrant, new town centre.
The multi-million pound regeneration proposals involve:
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an 18,000 sq.ft. foodstore
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new library with community space
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shops, offices restaurant/bar
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10 residential units and,
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better traffic management and environmental improvements.
The revised plan includes ideas put forward during the consultation by local people and organisations like the Community Council and the Town Centre Development Group which includes elected members, local businesses and community representatives.
Changes to the original masterplan included putting the planned public square at the south end of Stirling Street opposite the church with library, cafés and other facilities grouped around it.
Retail units will run along Duke Street and Stirling Street and a new food store will be built at the north end of Davis Row. Stirling Street will remain open to traffic at both ends but traffic calming will be introduced.
"We have reached a milestone with the signing of the development agreement and I am delighted that Henry Boot has maintained its commitment to creating a new centre for Denny in what has become a very uncertain financial climate worldwide," said Councillor Craig Martin, Convener of Economic Strategy and Development. "Earlier this year Falkirk Council opened a brand new secondary school, fit for education in the 21st century, and we are determined we to give the community a town centre of the same high quality."
Once market conditions allow:
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discussions will be opened with the owners and occupiers of the Church Walk blocks to acquire options over all interests
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a detailed planning application will be submitted and
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the properties needed to make way the regeneration will be acquired for the and a start to work on site
In the meantime, the Church Walk scaffolding is being kept in place for health and safety reasons.