Falkirk Council is ready to sign a formal agreement with developers after the plan received the backing of the powerful policy and resources committee.
The massive regeneration will deliver:
- A foodhall covering 52,000 square foot, shops and off
ices.
- A new police station.
- A two-storey library and museum and a civic centre.
The master plan will also include new community facilities, One Stop Shop, post office and a tree-lined La Porte Precinct.
Grangemouth Heritage Trust and Talbot House will be relocated and buildings of historical value, including the Municipal Chambers and Victoria Library, which had originally been under threat, will be saved from the bulldozers and refurbished.
Increased free car parking and better access to the centre for pedestrians and traffic is also part of the ambitious blueprint rubber stamped this week.
The council's director of community services, Maureen Campbell, said a "tremendous" amount of work had been done to get the project to this stage. She said consultation between the developers Baronsgate Estates and Winex Services Limited, business users and householders had been "comprehensive".
The committee was told: "Principle changes to the plan have taken into account issues raised and address community concerns.
''A tremendous amount of work has been done and a significant step forward taken."
How the new centre will finally look has taken years to thrash out – but shoppers still face a long wait before they will be able to enjoy the promised facilities.
An outline planning application is expected to be lodged before the end of the year, but consultation on health and safety issues with agencies including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency could take up to two years to resolve. The developer has already said the build could take five years after that.
Despite the lengthy timetable, Grangemouth Councillor Allyson Black is delighted the project is moving forward.
She said: "This report is very welcome and I'm happy to see traders and residents are predominantly behind the revised plan.
''I welcome the commitment the developers have shown to the town. We are going to have modern accessible buildings that will improve the profile of our town and increase civic pride."
Council leader Linda Gow said: "Grangemouth's town centre will change dramatically once this work is completed. We realise delivery of the project is some time away but dedicated to moving it forward as quickly as possible."
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