Roger Wilko: Plans a go to create student residence in former Falkirk store
A former town centre store will now be a residence for students after local authority planners gave the thumbs up to accommodation proposal.
Ghanshyam Property Ltd lodged an application with Falkirk Council on January 14 looking for permission to change the use and extend the building at 71 to 73 High Street, Falkirk.
According to the online planning documents the firm was looking to create student accommodation incorporating “associated amenity facilities”.
Council planners granted permission on Wednesday, June 3.
The documents stated: “The application looks to repurpose the former Wilko store at 71-73 High Street, Falkirk into purposed designed student accommodation with associated communal facilities including a gym, lounge, restaurant and study spaces.
“The vacant retail unit has been empty since the Wilkinson company went into administration in 2023. It has frontages onto the High Street, below a traditional two storey building and into the Howgate Shopping Centre.
"The combination of a critical housing shortage and the current retail environment has driven the redevelopment appraisal build a residential use with the context, both physical and market based, directing this towards student accommodation.
"Liaison with local stakeholders has identified a specific need for purpose designed, affordable student accommodation. The development will be entered directly from the High Street and within a short walk will have access to a full range of day to day facilities.
"Public transport links are perfect with bus and two rail stations all within easy reach. Recreation facilities are provided on site but access to quality green spaces is also possible with Callendar Park, the Forth and Clyde Canal towpath and Falkirk’s Core Path Network all close by.”