Public Consultation

After public consultation with most of the local organisations, including Bo'ness Community Council, expressing support for the proposals Falkirk Council voted 16-15 in favour of proceeding with the revised development proposals. (see report to council below)

The public consultation proved inconclusive with opinion split roughly 50-50 and was reflected to some extent in the council vote.

The tight vote, which appeared to split along expected political lines, ended up in a stalemate at 15-15 with the proposed plans given the go-ahead by the casting vote of the Provost.

Proposed re-phased development

ING were selected as the successful bidders following a marketing exercise undertaken by the Council in 2003 to identify a preferred developer for the regeneration of the harbour and foreshore.

Since ING's selection as preferred developer in 2004, there have been significant changes in national and international market conditions.

The consultation was brought about by the financial pressures, along with now known historic industrial site remediation and structural engineering costs, making the original development proposals unviable.

This has caused ING (the preferred developer) to amend their approach to the scheme, starting development at the east end of the site rather than the original plans commencing with the harbour to the west and proceeding east.

Planning to proceed

The vote means that detailed planning applications can now be drawn up for submission subject to the usual planning consultation with the community.

Initial information suggests that the fears of some objectors that the new re-phased development would include a raft of high-rise blocks in the first phases have been set aside with ING stating that there would be no 6-storey blocks in their application. (see ING letter below)