On March 5th, councillors will be asked to approve the submission of the full Falkirk Growth Deal document. This is a comprehensive plan that lays out how the council will manage and deliver the ten projects and Greener Grangemouth programme that make up the Deal.

Funded projects include the new Falkirk Town Hall, the creation of Scotland’s Canal Centre at Lock 16, a new Art Park for the area, an upgraded Rail and Transport Hub at Falkirk Grahamston along with a Green Cycle and Pedestrian Network.

There will also be a Skills Transition Centre at Forth Valley College to teach the skills needed for moving to Net Zero, the transformation of unused land into sites ready to support industrial growth, a new sustainable manufacturing campus to support modern biotechnology and advanced uses for carbon dioxide.

A Transport, Renewables and Career Exploration Hub will be established in partnership with Forth Ports, and a Greener Grangemouth project to use £12m to help the local community benefit from the transition to Net Zero.

If agreed by councillors, the document will be submitted to the UK and Scottish Governments, with the council anticipating all parties will sign the final agreement by the end of June. That would allow projects to get underway and start to release £80m worth of government capital funding needed to deliver the deal together with £12m revenue funding for Greener Grangemouth. The first projects are hoped to get underway in July 2024.

The council believes the ambitious timeline signifies a shared commitment to deliver on the promises made by the Growth Deal over the coming decade. These promises include job creation, improving local infrastructure, and economic diversification, all underpinned by a commitment that would see communities benefit equally from the deal.

Malcolm Bennie, director of place services, said: “The Falkirk Growth Deal is a commitment by Falkirk Council, and the Scottish and UK Governments to both economic revitalisation, a greener future and the wellbeing of our local communities. It’s an exciting new chapter in Falkirk’s story, highlighting the power of collaboration between central and local government, higher education, the public sector and business to deliver a shared vision for a brighter future for all.

“The project promises to bring new high-tech and green industry to the area, create an improved transport network, open up training opportunities for young people to launch rewarding careers, regenerate our canals, support the renewal of Falkirk Town Centre, and ensure Grangemouth and its community sees the benefits of supporting one of Scotland’s most important industrial zones.

“It is now for councillors to decide if the proposals represent the best way forward for the area and if they do then our team will hit the ground running to start delivering this vision to bring real and tangible benefits to everyone in the Falkirk area.”