Denny Town Centre

Denny town centre has evolved historically in a somewhat piecemeal manner and this has resulted in a fragmented town centre. 

 

Stirling Street in the early 1960's consisted of a variety of two and three storey buildings. With an array of shops, offices and pubs at ground floor level and residential dwellings above. Footpaths and roads were narrow and some pedestrian and traffic problems began to appear.  Present attitudes to development would almost certainly favour retention and renovation. 

 

However 1960's attitudes favoured redevelopment by demolition and rebuilding. The existing buildings on the west side of Stirling Street were demolished and four new residential/retail blocks (Church Walk Blocks) were built providing a main shopping area on the ground floor and maisonette style Council housing above.

 

The general styling of the blocks including flat roofs, raised pedestrian access and rear parking have resulted in a mixture of social and building fabric problems. In addition, although, over the years, a significant amount of refurbishment works have been carried out to the blocks, the residential properties were proving very difficult to let due to the poor and stigmatised reputation that has grown within the area.

 

Given the inherent design problems within the four blocks, the Council considered that further refurbishment works will not resolve the social problems and therefore full demolition would be considered opening up opportunities to redesign and redevelop the town centre.

 

New Future for Denny

Plans to create a new town centre for Denny are making real progress. A development agreement between Falkirk Council and its partners Henry Boot Developments has now been signed and an outline planning application submitted for the multi-million pound development. Affected owners and occupiers will be contacted for discussions on property acquisitions and options.

 

Denny residents, businesses, local groups and the Council approved the revised masterplan following extensive consultation last year. The clear message from the consultation 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:

• an 18,000 sq.ft. foodstore
• a new library with community space
• shops, offices restaurant/bar
• 10 residential units
• 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 Falkirk Council elected members, local businesses and Community representatives.

 

Denny Town Centre Regeneration Update from Falkirk Council

Changes to the original masterplan included putting the planned public square at the south end of Stirling Street opposite the church with the 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 Davies Row.

 

Stirling Street will remain open to traffic at both ends but traffic calming will be introduced.

 

Moving Ahead

Now the development agreement has been signed and the outline planning application lodged, the next step will be to open discussions with the owners and occupiers of the Church Walk blocks to acquire options over all interests. Any further progress is dependent on the economic situation.

 

While good progress is being made, the developer will only invest further in the scheme if market conditions have improved. Once the market is right and outline planning approved the next steps will be:

• submission of a detailed planning application
• acquisition of properties
• starting work on site

In the meantime, the Church Walk scaffolding is being kept in place for health and safety reasons.

 

Have Your Say

You can view the plans in Denny Library and at
falkirkonline.net|. To view and comment on the plans please contact:

• Brent Vivian
  Planning Officer, Development Services
• Abbotsford House
  Bainsford
  Falkirk
• Tel: 01324 504935.
• Email: brent.vivian@falkirk.gov.uk.
  

 

View the revised masterplan here - June 2009
(PDF, 1.46MB)|

 

Denny Development Group