Falkirk Council: Green light for Gilston Park proposal for 500 homes

Members of Falkirk Council’s planning committee agreed today (Tuesday) to give planning permission in principle to build 500 new flats and houses, as well as develop 2.5 hectares for commercial use.

There will also be 1.5 hectares of retail and community space that will include new neighbourhood centre which could be used for a new health centre if that was supported by the NHS.

Members heard from CALA Homes, who recently came on board, that the development will deliver “much needed homes in an attractive environment” as well as economic benefits.

Around 150 jobs will be created for every year of construction, and once established, Gilston Park is expected to support around 300-400 full-time jobs.

CALA’s Ian Conway told the meeting that the company had secured funds of £130 million to invest in the area, and that almost half of the site will be open space with an attractive network of paths and parks promoting biodiversity.

The new housing will include 125 affordable homes to be built in partnership with Falkirk Council.

There were lots of questions from councillors however, reflecting the fears that many people in the community have about the impact of such a large development on schools, health services and transport.

Lower Braes councillor Anne Hannah, who is not on the committee, outlined some of the concerns constituents had raised with her in a letter to planners.

Councillor Laura Murtagh said she was looking for reassurances that what is in the masterplan is actually what will be delivered.

As a local member for Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst, she was aware that the Kinnaird Village design had originally included commercial units but there were changes due to “market forces”.

CALA homes’ Ian Conway said that the housebuilders have “looked at the commercial reality of delivery” and that the company has learned from the experience at Kinnaird.

He assured her that two hectare sites have been the ones that have sold in Falkirk, for “local, small scale business needs” in the last five years.

He added: “The delivery of the housing is the catalyst that gives the best chance of the employment area being successful.”

Ms Murtagh said she was reassured by the number of conditions that have been imposed on the development, showing how much discussion there had been between planning officers the developers.

Mr Conway said the developers have promised a package worth around £8 million that they hope will address many of the concerns.

An extension will be needed for St Margaret’s Primary in Polmont and the developers will be asked to pay £5038.61 per house and £1732.24 per flat to help with the costs, with a further £1794.10 per house and £538.46 per flat to boost local nursery provision.

Transport too has always been an issue and the developers are being asked to make contributions to help upgrade the M9 junction at Lathallan Roundabout.

They will also be expected to fund the diversion of the F25 bus service into the housing estate and also contribute to a new bus service linking the site with Polmont Railway Station.

There will also need to be agreement on the contribution to health care.

The Gilston site was first proposed nearly 25 years ago, although the original plan was for a industrial and commercial with no housing.

It has long been controversial but a Scottish Government appointed reporter included the area in the final version of Falkirk’s local development plan, adopted in 2020.

That makes it difficult for councillors to refuse any development although they can impose conditions on the site that mitigate any concerns.

Lower Braes councillor Gordon Forrest, who lives in Polmont, said that while the £8 million package was generous, the companies involved were getting a superb site.

He said: “The district sorely needs new housing but Polmont does not have the infrastructure for it so any contribution that comes from the developers would be a great asset.

“How often does any company come to us and say ‘I’ve got £140 million I’d like to spend in your area?’ It doesn’t happen every day and we’d be totally stupid to say no.”

But he added the developers were getting a fantastic site in return.

“I feel a wee bit like the Native Red Indian with the fur traders coming to us and saying ‘there’s some beads, there’s some matchheads – but we want that land.

“They could be a little bit more generous – that’s my point.”

The council’s decision was also influenced by the fact that it has a target number of houses to build over the next five years. Members were warned that refusing the Gilston site would mean they would have to agree to 500 houses in other areas.

The details of the planning permission – for example the style and type of the housing and what the neighbourhood centre will look like – will be subject to their own applications that will come to the committee in future.

Provost Robert Bissett said it was “a great opportunity to move forward as we come out of Covid and give some hope and encouragement to the area”.

Councillor James Kerr said: “As a council we’re always welcoming investment of £140 million – that goes without saying. The jobs aspect is also welcome but the developer and CALA Homes have got to be mindful of the people who live there and their concerns.

“If this is granted, I just hope their worries can be ironed out.”