Plans for a new headquarters and civic space in Falkirk took another significant step forward after the local authority submitted plans for a new building on the site of the former Westbank Clinic on West Bridge Street.

The £18 million project will see Robertson Construction Group develop a new four storey HQ office and civic building with the possible demolition of an existing health centre on site, complete with new traffic and pedestrian access arrangements from main road.

Falkirk Council, which will work in partnership with hub East Central Scotland on the project, formally approved the decision in August with a meeting of the council giving the go-ahead for plans to be put forward.

Building warrants for the demolition of Westbank Clinic and the new HQ have also been submitted.

Following a wide ranging public consultation that took place between May and June of 2015 on the proposed design for the new building, a revised design has been put forward taking on board adjoining residents’ concerns regarding the height and size of the building.

The design by Ryder Architecture has now reduced the eastern block by one storey and the parapet heights of both blocks, and retains a stepped profile to blend with the surrounding topography and give the building the prominence required for a public building at the gateway to Falkirk town centre.

A council spokesperson confirmed that these design changes had been made: “We have reduced the height of the building by a further 2.5 metres and design team have evolved the 3D visualisations and elevational treatments to highlight that this is a high quality, yet functional design, which will be appropriate for the council’s main HQ and will complement the architecture in this part of the town centre.”

Falkirk Council’s planning committee is expected to consider the application early in 2016 after the formal process has been progressed.

The council will also consider an update on the principle of replacement of Falkirk Town Hall on a proposed site at Middlefield in Falkirk being pursued in partnership with Forth Valley College and Falkirk Community Trust at a meeting of Falkirk Council later in 2015.