Grangemouth Town Centre

Falkirk Council's Policy and Resources Committee, in May 2008, granted conditional approval for the regeneration of Grangemouth town centre.

 

This will be delivered between major owners within the town centre, in partnership with Falkirk Council. 

 

Go-ahead for the project was given upon the condition that the development team undertook extensive consultation with the residents and business users in Grangemouth in order to secure their support prior to developing any planning application.

 

Key proposals for the Town Centre regeneration are as follows.

 

• New civic office in York Square, One Stop Shop, Retail and offices totalling over 43,000sqft.
• New Library and Museum Facilities on Bo'ness Road, linked to the existing Town Hall
• Extension and refurbishment of the existing shops and offices with over 75,000sqft of new shopping space.
• New Talbot House day centre with refurbished and extended Victoria Library building.
• Remodelling of the rear of the Municipal Chambers on Bo'ness Road
• A new Grangemouth Heritage Trust facility
• 2 new open civic spaces next to the prime shopping area of La Porte Precinct
• Remodelling and refurbishment of the main town centre pedestrian precinct
• A proposed new relocated Police facility within Grangemouth town centre in partnership with a proposed new edge of town facility
• New multi level car parking facility, which will be fully managed and free to use
• Improved town centre security and safety
• Improvements to the roads layouts and public realm spaces specifically along Bo'ness road, enhancing the setting of the existing historic town centre.

This comprehensive redevelopment of Grangemouth town centre is set to address many of the issues currently affecting the town centre. 

 

The current layout of the main shopping precinct does not offer the viable conditions for a modern town centre. 

 

The Developer, in partnership with Falkirk Council, are confident that these redevelopment proposals will provide a new vibrant, economically robust and attractive town centre for many years to come.

 

The proposed redevelopment is focused upon the existing town centre extending from Bo'ness Road/Charing Cross in the North to Kerse Road in the South and from Union Road in the West to the western boundary of Grangemouth Bowling Club in the East.

 

An element of the proposals include the opportunity for a newly extended food supermarket will be located in the same location as the existing supermarket.

 

To facilitate this proposal it is necessary to remodel the rear extensions of the Municipal Chambers, and to relocate the existing Police Station to new premises operating from within the town centre and at the edge of town. It is uncertain whether this will remain Tescos, a matter which will be clarified as proposals progress.

 

Throughout the pedestrian areas of the town centre a comprehensive upgrading of the public realm spaces and building facades will be undertaken as an integral part of the development, improving the overall shopping environment.

Current Position

Asda have recently opened a new 65,000sqft foodstore on land acquired from Forth Ports adjacent to Grangemouth town centre. The development is recognised as bringing additional investment and retail provision to Grangemouth.

 

The original regeneration masterplan was subsequently amended to reflect specific community concerns regarding the initial proposed location of the library/museum facilities in York Square and lack of a stronger link between the new Asda and the existing town centre. 

 

Since 2008, Council officers have been progressing a development agreement with the developer and jointly undertaking discussions with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the influence of Hazard Consultation Zones on the town centre regeneration proposals.

 

Heads of Terms for the Development Agreement have been concluded. Drafting of the detailed development agreement reflecting these Heads of Terms is ongoing.

 

This is important detailed work to ensure all aspects of delivery of the regeneration are accurately reflected in order to ensure the interests of the community and Falkirk Council are protected in terms of developer ability to deliver and objectives of masterplan objectives are delivered.

 

Similar negotiations for Denny and Bo'ness have taken considerable time and Grangemouth is no different in execution of this phase of the regeneration process.

 

Upon conclusion of a development agreement it is anticipated that the developer will progress this regeneration initiative with the submission of a planning application during 2009 and site start estimated during 2010/11.

 

Revised Masterplan Proposals

Revised masterplan proposals were available for viewing at various locations around the town centre. 

 

You can view the Grangemouth masterplan here
(PDF, 220KB)|

 

Town Hall Plans

The public realm project is now fully complete.

Grangemouth Development Group 

Regular meetings of the Grangemouth Development Group have seen group members briefed and heard continuing commitment form the developer and funders to the regeneration scheme. These meetings have been very positive and constructive, addressing community and retailer concerns and supporting initiatives.

 

Group members include:

• Grangemouth Councillors
• Community Council and Local Community Planning representatives
• town centre business and retailer representatives
• Council officers and the developer's representatives.

Minutes of these meetings are available to the community below and in the library.

 

Development Group members feedback these meetings and minutes to their relevant representative members. There have been regular updates in the Falkirk News and a press release was recently issued in April of this year.