Falkirk Council: Next steps for Growth Deal to transform the district

The next steps in Falkirk’s £140 million Growth Deal will include finding the way forward for a new arts centre for the area.

Members of Falkirk Council’s executive will discuss the deal at a meeting on Tuesday when they hear about the next steps for the ambitious project which aims to regenerate the local economy.

Plans for a new arts centre on Falkirk High Street – which was to built as part of a new council headquarters – were voted down by Labour and Conservative councillors earlier this year, after years of arguments in the council chamber.

However, funding to create the attraction – which council chiefs believe will revitalise the High Street and boost local businesses – is still in the capital budget and the Growth Deal has earmarked £6 million for the project.

The Falkirk-Grangemouth Investment Zone Growth Deal in its entirety has been allocated £50 million from Scottish Government and £40 million from the UK Government to add to cash from Falkirk Council and Scottish Canals.

In December, agreement was reached with both governments to sign the Heads of Terms but more work is now needed to build business cases that will formally secure funding for each of the individual parts of the deal.

These include £21 million for the creation of a Central Sustainable Transport Hub to be known as ‘Falkirk Central’ at the current Falkirk Grahamston Station and an associated ‘Green Corridor’ that will connect local communities.

Funding of £4 million from the Growth Deal will help create Scotland’s Canal Centre, bringing a derelict site in Camelon back into use offering opportunities for employment, training and recreation. It will also be the site of a relocated HQ for Scottish Canals who will contribute £5.8 million to the project.

Another £3 million has been earmarked to create Scotland’s National Outdoor Art Park with work along stretches of the Forth & Clyde canal, linking key visitor attractions.

The Growth Deal will also provide £10 million to develop ‘strategic innovation sites’ in a bid to attract investment in areas such as chemical sciences, and industrial biotechnology.

Another £10 million will contribute to a Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre that will capture CO2 to manufacture more sustainable products.

Cash will also go to establish an Innovation Skills Transition Centre led by Forth Valley College, with £4 million to help school pupils and young people get the right skills for local industries.

The Growth Deal has also pledged £3 million each from the Scottish and UK Governments to support the creation of Falkirk Arts Centre. This sits alongside £45 million of capital funds the Council has committed towards delivery of its civic headquarters and arts centre project, its match funding contribution to the Investment Zone package.

It will create a 550-seat auditorium, studios, workshop and other facilities, intended to be a new regional destination for culture in Falkirk and the surrounding area.

Since the Heads of Terms were signed, the council has seen changes to senior management with a new leadership team now in place to take the growth deal forward.

A new department called Invest Falkirk is now in place and business cases will start to be developed.

Since the last decision was taken, several new councillors have been elected who have pledged to put the bickering aside and make speedier decisions.

At the meeting on Tuesday, the executive will be asked to authorise the Director of Place Services to continue to ensure progress is being made on all the formal requirements.